The People Power Party held a Budget Policy Council meeting with Gyeongsangnam-do on November 9, promising support for local issues such as transportation network expansion and the development of the aerospace industry. They also criticized the government's future response fund and the allocation of local finances, emphasizing a budget reorganization focused on local industries and job creation.
Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, stated at the 'People Power Party-Gyeongnam Innovation Growth Budget Policy Council' held at the National Assembly, "Gyeongnam and the People Power Party are one team," and pledged to support Gyeongnam's new leap forward in collaboration with Governor Park Wan-soo.
Jang pointed out that the budget for Gyeongnam's long-awaited projects, such as the Geoje-Tongyeong Expressway, which passed preliminary feasibility studies, was not included in the government's budget proposal for the next year. He criticized, "While creating a future response fund costing 162 trillion won, the allocation of local taxes and grants to Gyeongnam is expected to decrease significantly," adding, "They claim to support local areas, yet their budget policies are detrimental to them."
He expressed the party's commitment to legislative and budgetary support for local issues, stating, "We will do everything possible to ensure the enactment of the special law for the aerospace complex city and the special law for the development of the southern coast, which are long-standing wishes of Gyeongnam."
Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik called for national-level investment to support Gyeongnam's key industries. He remarked, "Gyeongnam is the center of core industries driving the South Korean economy, including nuclear power, defense, shipbuilding, and advanced machinery," emphasizing the need for strategic national investment.
Criticism of the future response fund was a common theme during the meeting. Jeong stated, "The cultivation of future food sources and balanced national development are being pushed to the back burner," and stressed the need to reduce ineffective and wasteful expenditures associated with the future response fund to focus resources on revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs.
Governor Park also pointed out that the financial damage Gyeongnam faces due to the creation of the future response fund amounts to approximately 500 billion won, stating, "While the budget for local areas is being cut, the burden on local governments is increasing." He added, "The government talks about local-led growth, but in reality, many policies are moving in the opposite direction."
The meeting was attended by Im I-ja, chair of the policy committee, and Park Sang-woong, chairman of the Gyeongnam party committee, along with local lawmakers including Park Dae-chul, Shin Seong-beom, Kang Min-guk, Choi Hyeong-du, Kim Jong-yang, Seo Cheon-ho, and Lee Jong-wook.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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