Criticism of the "Request for Reconsideration" Amid Budget Dispute
"Break the Vicious Cycle Causing Administrative Paralysis"
Calls for Apology
The Yeongcheon and Cheongdo District Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea has strongly urged the city of Yeongcheon and the Yeongcheon City Council to immediately stop their irresponsible political strife, as the two sides remain locked in an extreme confrontation over the budget review.
On December 19, the Yeongcheon and Cheongdo Committee of the Democratic Party issued a statement saying, "The administration and politics of Yeongcheon have lost their way and are now drifting, directly threatening the lives of citizens," adding, "We call on Mayor Choi Kimoon, an independent, and the city council, which is dominated by the People Power Party, to return to the table of cooperation that puts citizens' lives first."
This situation began during the review of the 2026 main budget, when the Yeongcheon City Council, without prior consultation with the mayor, passed a significant increase in budget allocations for constituency-related projects such as village road expansion and paving.
In response, Mayor Choi Kimoon judged the council's budget allocation to be excessive, refused to approve the increased amount, and announced his intention to exercise his right to request reconsideration.
Regarding this, the district committee pointed out, "The city's budget is neither a personal fund for city council members nor the exclusive property of the mayor to wield power," adding, "It is a tragic sight to see the precious tax money, earned through the hard work of citizens, being reduced to a tool for political strife and thereby hindering the livelihoods of the people."
The committee criticized the conflict between the two sides, likening it to "a shrimp's back breaking in a fight between whales," and pointed out that the damage is falling squarely on the citizens of Yeongcheon.
In particular, the committee condemned both sides for "deepening emotional rifts while ignoring law and principle," warning that "the vicious cycle of requests for reconsideration and retaliatory budget cuts, which creates administrative paralysis, only hinders the development of Yeongcheon."
The committee went on to stress, "The mayor and the city council must apologize to the citizens and present a sincere solution for Yeongcheon's future, even at this late stage."
The Yeongcheon and Cheongdo District Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea announced, "We will continue to monitor this situation through the eyes of the citizens and will respond strongly in the future."
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