Geochang County Council Members' Remuneration to Rise 5% in 2027... Annual Total Set at 42.84 Million Won

Raised from 3.39 million won to 3.57 million won per month... Legislative activity expenses frozen at 1.5 million won
Monthly allowance raised 9% from 1.89 million won to 2.07 million won
Committee finalized decision after public hearing... To take effect after ordinance revision

Remuneration for Geochang County Council members in South Gyeongsang Province will rise by about 5% in 2027 from this year, to approximately 42.84 million won annually.

The county’s Remuneration Review Committee said it decided on October 30, at its final deliberation meeting, to set the monthly remuneration for county council members in 2027 at 3.57 million won.

This is an increase of 180,000 won from the current 3.39 million won per month, bringing the annual payment to 42.84 million won.

[Photo provided by Geochang County] Attendees share their views on a proposed pay increase at a public hearing on compensation for Geochang County Council members, held at the Geochang County Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.

The remuneration consists of legislative activity expenses and a monthly allowance. The committee decided to freeze legislative activity expenses at this year’s level of 1.5 million won per month and raise the monthly allowance by 180,000 won, from 1.89 million won to 2.07 million won.

The increase in the monthly allowance is about 9.5%, while the overall increase in remuneration is about 5.3%.

The committee said it formulated the proposed increase taking into account the fact that the monthly allowance had been frozen for the past four years, as well as the increase in compensation for local government officials over the same period.

It also decided that the monthly allowance for the three-year period from 2028 to 2030 would be adjusted in line with the previous year’s increase in compensation for local government officials.

At its first meeting on October 13, the committee had provisionally decided to freeze legislative activity expenses and raise the monthly allowance.

It then held a public hearing at the Geochang County General Social Welfare Center on October 28 to gather residents’ opinions.

All attendees reportedly supported the committee’s provisional decision at the hearing, and the committee finalized its original proposal at its second meeting on October 30.

Kang Cheol-woo, chair of the Remuneration Review Committee, said, "We set the remuneration level after considering Geochang County’s population, fiscal independence, and equity with other cities and counties. County council members need to carry out their duties responsibly and meet residents’ expectations."

The decision will be communicated to the Geochang County governor and the Geochang County Council. It is expected to take effect in 2027 after the relevant ordinance is revised.

Meanwhile, remuneration for local council members consists of legislative activity expenses and a monthly allowance. Under relevant laws and regulations, payment amounts are set through deliberation by a remuneration review committee and revision of the relevant ordinances.

Since increases in county council members’ remuneration prompt discussion about the role and responsibilities of residents’ representative bodies, it is also important to examine the tangible results of their work and how residents’ opinions are gathered.

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