[National Assembly Audit Spotlight] Lee Kwanghee Challenges Gyeonggi on "Process and Livelihoods" Amid "546.5 Billion Won in Austerity"

Oct. 13 National Assembly Audit of Gyeonggi Province by the Public Administration and Security Committee
"Cuts announced before consulting cities and counties"

Lee Kwanghee, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, pressed Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae on October 13 about whether the province had adequately consulted cities and counties during its 546.5-billion-won expenditure restructuring, and whether it was appropriate to cut even livelihood-related budgets across the board. At a National Assembly audit of Gyeonggi Province by the Public Administration and Security Committee, where debate continued over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as a candidate for chief of the Central Investigation Agency, the governor's official residence, and her moves in national politics, Lee questioned a governor from his own party about the procedures and impact of her policy implementation.

At the start of his questioning, Lee said, "I very much agree that fiscal soundness is necessary," but asked, "Does having the right goal justify the means as well?" He noted that Gyeonggi Province had notified cities and counties that it would reduce the provincial subsidy rate for their subsidized projects to a maximum of 30%, and pointed out that places with low fiscal independence, such as Yeoncheon and Gapyeong, might have to abandon the projects altogether.

Lee Gwanghee, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

Lee then asked whether the province had consulted sufficiently with cities and counties before notifying them of the planned cuts, eliciting Choo's response: "There wasn't enough time to consult with them adequately in advance."

Lee also pointed out that Choo's proposed solutions to the fiscal crisis—increasing the local consumption tax rate, transferring some corporate tax revenue, and reallocating fire service funding—would require legal amendments and discussion in the National Assembly. Yet the province had notified local governments of project cuts before consulting the National Assembly, cities and counties, or the provincial council. "Isn't the order of things backward?" he asked.

While addressing the budget dispute between Gyeonggi Province and its provincial council, Lee referred to allowances to improve childcare teachers' working conditions and operating expenses for childcare centers. He criticized the fact that childcare funding totaling 2.7 billion won, including the allowances for childcare teachers, which had not been included in Gyeonggi Province's supplementary budget proposal, amounted to only about one-fifteenth-thousandth of the total budget. He also noted that Gyeonggi Province had previously resolved issues through consultation and agreement even when the opposition held a majority, and said, "There are complaints that Gyeonggi Province, once a barometer of local self-government, is now acting unilaterally."

Choo countered, "I had absolutely no intention of acting unilaterally, and I did not do so." She explained the need for an urgent response, saying, "(In the provincial administration,) abscesses had built up in every corner."

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