Goyang Mayor Min Kyungseon: "Keep Provincial Share for Goyang Pay at 40%... Consider Welfare Costs"

Goyang Mayor Min Kyungseon stresses easing the fiscal burden on residents and cooperation among cities and counties at meeting with Gyeonggi governor
Proposes joint efforts to improve local allocation tax and railway construction systems

Min Kyungseon, mayor of Goyang Special City, asked Gyeonggi Province to maintain its current 40% share of the incentive costs for the local currency Goyang Pay. He cited growing fiscal pressure on the city due to an aging population and rising essential welfare expenses.

Goyang Mayor Min Kyungseon poses for a commemorative photo at a meeting of the executive committee of the Gyeonggi Mayors and County Governors Association with the Gyeonggi governor, held at Dodamso in Suwon on the 21st. Provided by Goyang City.

Mayor Min made the request at a meeting of the executive committee of the Gyeonggi Mayors and County Chiefs Council, held with the Gyeonggi Province governor at Dodamso in Suwon on October 21. The meeting also served as an introductory gathering for the council’s executive committee for the ninth popularly elected term. Seven mayors and county heads attended, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae and Mayor Min, who is a vice chair of the council.

“Goyang has the largest population of residents aged 65 or older and the largest budget for long-term care benefits among the 31 cities and counties in the province, and the city’s share of essential welfare expenses is increasing every year,” Mayor Min said.

“If the provincial subsidy rate for Goyang Pay incentives, which are directly linked to revitalizing neighborhood businesses, is lowered, the fiscal burden felt on the ground could grow,” he said. “Gyeonggi Province needs to give the issue particular attention, including by maintaining its current 40% share of the costs.”

Governor Choo replied, “The provincial cost-sharing rate is not set uniformly and can be adjusted. I will carefully consider local input and make adjustments to ensure differentiated support tailored to the circumstances of each of the 31 cities and counties, while also ensuring fairness.”

Mayor Min also proposed that Gyeonggi Province and its cities and counties work together to seek improvements to the local allocation tax system and railway construction policies.

“Revising the local allocation tax calculation method following the establishment of the Future Response Fund and improving the system for railway construction projects under which the party responsible bears the costs are urgent challenges for all local governments,” he said. “To secure greater autonomy in local finance and reduce the burden of railway operating costs, Gyeonggi Province and all 31 cities and counties should act as one team and speak with a single voice to the central government and the National Assembly.”

Before the meeting, attendees paid tribute to the late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok of Bucheon Fire Station, who died in the line of duty while rescuing people at a recent fire.

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