Six Buddhist-affiliated Organizations in Gyeonggi Province Call for Withdrawal of Local Finance Reform Legislative Notice

Six Buddhist-affiliated organizations in Gyeonggi Province, which have opposed local finance reforms, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 4th to protest against the Ministry of Interior and Safety's announcement of proposed amendments to the Local Finance Act enforcement decree, demanding that "the ministry postpone policy implementation until rational alternatives emerge from the National Assembly."

The press conference was attended by Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myeong, Goyang Mayor Choi Seong, and Hwaseong Mayor Chae In-seok, while Yongin Mayor Jung Chan-min and Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong participated as co-signatories of a joint statement.

Through the press statement read alternately by Mayor Choi and Mayor Chae, the six Buddhist-affiliated organizations stated that "despite the appeals and condemnation of 5 million citizens and warnings and calls from the three opposition parties to take responsibility for reform, the Ministry of Interior and Safety has maintained an attitude of poor communication," and "expressed regret that it unilaterally enforced the legislative notice with one-sided content and methods."

They further claimed that "the contents of the enforcement decree legislative notice are filled with groundless facts," and pointed out that "it is a reasonable approach to conduct public forums on institutional problems and improvement measures through the Local Finance and Decentralization Special Committee agreed upon by both parties in the National Assembly, but forcing through the legislative notice disregards the National Assembly."

Additionally, they raised their voices saying that "the ordinance for preferential allocation of adjustment grants, which was drafted considering Gyeonggi Province's special characteristics and authorized by the ministry, is being demeaned as favoritism, and there is a rush to deceive about local taxes continuously increasing," and asked "then why is the fact that the tax revenue scale of the six cities' Buddhist-affiliated organizations has sharply declined not mentioned?"

The six cities pointed out that "the Ministry of Interior and Safety is attributing the deterioration of local finances to the responsibility of the six cities to create justification for implementing poorly planned policies, and has denigrated the opposition of 5 million citizens as irresponsible agitation." However, they predicted that "through this local finance reform controversy, local finance stability, institutionalization of communication between the central and local governments, and transparency of grant distribution will be achieved."

They emphasized that "the Ministry of Interior and Safety should also step back from acting as a master to local governments and find its proper place in supporting local autonomy."

They further stated that "the ministry must postpone policy implementation until consensus is reached through the Local Finance and Decentralization Special Committee table agreed upon by the National Assembly, and this is the minimum responsibility to the National Assembly and the people who expect rational policy implementation."

At the press conference, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myeong raised his voice, saying "the current local finance reform plan does not resolve local finance disparities but expands already-occurring financial gaps and the interests of six cities. The minister must know this, yet is concealing it and engaging in deceptive conduct against the entire nation."