'Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee' Launches

[Suwon Ilbo=Kang Han-seo] The 'Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee,' which will establish the welfare project domains between central and local governments and review local government cash welfare policies, will be launched.

The Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee will hold its launch ceremony on the 4th at noon at the KTX Cheonan-Asan Station conference room in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, and announce future operational plans. It will also elect a chair and secretary, and release a launch statement.

The Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee under the Association of Korean Mayors and Governors (Chair Yom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon) is scheduled to present measures to strengthen the central government's responsibility for universal welfare.

Additionally, it will conduct a comprehensive survey of local government cash welfare policies and establish guidelines for 'cash-based welfare.' As of the 1st, more than two-thirds of the nation's 226 basic local governments have expressed their intention to participate.

The committee plans to organize an advisory committee composed of experts in welfare, finance, and conflict resolution, and to include advisory committee members and citizen representatives in the special committee to derive social consensus.

The Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee was initiated after numerous local government heads formed consensus, saying "local government finances are worsening due to cash-based welfare policies implemented differently by each local government."

Of the 668 newly introduced local government welfare policies last year, 446 were cash-based welfare policies, accounting for 66.76%.

On May 27, a preparatory committee for the Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee was organized with Mayor Yom Tae-young as chair to prepare for the committee's launch.

At the launch ceremony of the preparatory committee, Mayor Yom Tae-young emphasized, "The central government should take responsibility for universal welfare projects such as child allowances, while local governments should focus on improving welfare services."