[Beyond the Scene] 166.3 Billion Won for Marriage Support Allowance... More Burden on Local Governments for Vulnerable Groups

Record-High Budget for Ministry of Gender Equality Next Year,

But 180 Billion Won Slashed from National Funding for Safety and Human Rights

Local Governments Cite Fiscal Strain... Concerns Over Frontline Confusion

The budget proposal for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for next year has reached a record high of 2.1191 trillion won, a 110.4 billion won (5.5%) increase compared to this year's main budget. However, most of the increase is concentrated in a new project, the “Marriage Support Allowance,” which has sparked controversy. A total of 166.3 billion won has been newly allocated to this project, which provides 1 million won per married couple who registers their marriage next year, meaning it has essentially taken up the entire budget increase.

While there has been a significant increase in universal cash-based support, which tends to receive broad public approval, pinpointed support for safety and human rights—such as victims of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, sex trafficking, and migrant women—is being shifted to local governments, leading to mounting dissatisfaction at the ground level.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to drastically lower the national treasury subsidy rate for matching projects with local governments starting next year. For Seoul, the rate will be reduced from 50% to 30%, and for local governments outside Seoul, it will be lowered from 70% to 50%. This is expected to save approximately 180 billion won in central government funds.

The projects affected by this subsidy rate reduction include child care, support for victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, and sex trafficking, and protection for migrant women—key areas targeting victims of gender-based violence and socially marginalized groups. While the Ministry states that this adjustment aims to enhance the autonomy and accountability of local governments, questions are being raised about whether it is appropriate to shift national responsibility in a situation where violent crimes against women are a persistent social issue.

An official from a local government criticized the move, saying, "After being notified of the adjustment to the treasury subsidy rate, we submitted our objections but received no substantive response. The government is effectively shifting its own projects onto the localities." An official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which handles fiscal allocation between central and regional governments, commented, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family requested a uniform reduction in the national subsidy rate for five main projects and 18 subsidiary projects from 70% to 50%. It is highly unusual to adjust the subsidy rates for so many projects at once."

Public sanitary pad support, which was launched as a state-led project, will also shift more of the burden to local governments. This year, the pilot project was fully funded by the central government, but from next year, the matching subsidy rate will be changed so that basic local governments nationwide will receive only 30% to 50% in national funding.

If the central government pushes forward with such changes via advance notification, rather than through sufficient consultation, while local governments have not secured additional fiscal resources, there is a high likelihood of confusion on the front lines. Uniform cuts to national subsidies without consideration for local fiscal conditions may ultimately result in harm to the public. In particular, working conditions for those in safety and human rights fields are already poor, and outside the capital area, even securing enough personnel is a major challenge.

The effectiveness of cash-based welfare projects that are provided regardless of income or age also warrants reconsideration. As government-led social welfare subsidy programs continue to expand, the first priority should be to restructure these programs so that the budget is allocated where it is most needed and benefits reach those who truly require them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.