Local Governments Likely to Allow Charitable Donations for Administrative Purposes

Local council members' project promotion expenses and overseas travel allowances are expected to be raised, and charitable donations by local government heads are likely to be permitted.

According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, Minister Park Myeong-jae attended the 'Day of Local Public Enterprises' event held in Busan on the 15th and announced at a press conference that the ministry will revise laws to allow local government heads to engage in charitable donations when necessary for administrative purposes.

Minister Park stated, "There are many requests indicating that the execution of project promotion expenses by local government heads is excessively restricted by the Public Official Election Act, making it impossible to provide even small prizes, let alone prize money for commendations, which creates difficulties in carrying out field administration." He added, "We plan to improve relevant regulations through gathering opinions and consultations with the Central Election Management Commission to ensure that project promotion expenses used for legitimate purposes are not constrained by the Public Official Election Act."

Minister Park also revealed, "Taking into account price increases over the past five years, we plan to review measures to make the common project promotion expenses for legislative operations raised by local councils more realistic."

Local council members' project promotion expenses have been frozen since 2002.

Meanwhile, local councils have recommended to the Ministry of Interior and Safety that the common project promotion expenses per member be increased from the current 6.1 million won annually to 8.1 million won, and that travel allowances for local council members to attend international conferences and official events of local governments be raised.