Kim Sangho, Daegu Dong-gu Council Member: "Over 60,000 Daegu Farmers Won't Receive Allowance Next Year"... All Local Governments Except Seoul to Provide Payments

Kim Sangho, Member of the Daegu Dong-gu Council, called for solutions to pressing issues in Daegu's agricultural sector during a five-minute free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 348th regular meeting held on December 11.

Kim Sangho criticized, "While other local governments are actively responding to changes in the domestic and international agricultural environment, Daegu has remained indifferent and lacks policy initiatives, resulting in the effective stagnation of agricultural administration."

Daegu Dong-gu Council Member Sangho Kim

He strongly denounced, "In 2026, all metropolitan cities and provinces except Seoul will provide farmers' allowances, but Daegu is ignoring the desperate voices of farmers and only making excuses about the budget, refusing to pay the farmers' allowance."

Kim further pointed out, "As of the end of 2024, Daegu has 60,235 farmers and 13,597 hectares of arable land, which is two to three times larger than Daejeon and Ulsan. However, Daegu's agricultural budget is less than half of those cities, making it impossible not only to provide farmers' allowances but even to apply for national government-funded projects."

He also criticized, "Other local governments are actively working to secure allocations of foreign seasonal workers to address the severe labor shortages in rural areas, but Daegu shows little interest or support for introducing foreign seasonal workers."

Kim Sangho urged action, stating, "The central government and other local governments are fostering agriculture as a high value-added future industry that forms the foundation of life and the food industry, and even creates quality jobs. However, Daegu shows neither interest, will, nor policy for agriculture, leaving local farmers feeling alienated and deprived."