Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "Hometown Love Donation Scheme Empowers Local Governments Facing Population Decline"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun emphasized that "the purpose of introducing the Hometown Love Donation Scheme is to empower local governments facing population decline."

At the inauguration ceremony for the 'Hometown Love Donation Scheme Return Gift Selection Committee' held at the City Hall Situation Room on the 26th, the mayor said, "While it is important for Suwon City to receive donations from citizens of other local governments through the Hometown Love Donation Scheme, it is also important to promote our citizens to donate to local governments facing population decline."

He continued, "The true purpose of the Hometown Love Donation Scheme can be realized only when the public donates more to local governments facing population decline," and added, "The annual donation limit is 5 million won per person. Rather than donors giving 5 million won to a single local government, I hope they would donate 100,000 won each to 50 local governments facing population decline."

He also stated, "I hope Suwon City would approach this not as the 'Hometown Love Donation Scheme' but as the 'Suwon Love Donation Scheme' concept, so that not only people whose hometown is Suwon but also citizens from other regions who love Suwon can donate to Suwon City."

Suwon City appointed seven private committee members, including Kim Woo-young, editorial committee member of this newspaper, to the Return Gift Selection Committee. The committee comprises nine members: seven private committee members, one ex officio member (Director of Suwon City's Autonomous Decentralization Division), and one member of the Suwon City Council.

The 'Hometown Love Donation Scheme,' to be implemented starting January 1st next year, allows people living away from their hometown to donate to their hometown or other local governments, with donors receiving tax deductions at a certain rate, while recipient local governments can provide return gifts within 30% of the donation amount.

All local government citizens except Suwon residents can donate to Suwon City, while Suwon residents can donate to all basic and metropolitan local governments nationwide except Suwon City and Gyeonggi Province. Donations can be made through online platforms (Hometown Love e-um System) or NH Nonghyup Bank reception counters.

Donations of 100,000 won or less receive 100% tax deductions, while donations exceeding 100,000 won receive 16.5% tax deductions. A 100,000 won donation can yield benefits worth approximately 130,000 won (100,000 won tax deduction plus 30,000 won in return gifts). Only individuals can donate, with an annual donation limit of 5 million won per person. Local governments can use donated funds for supporting socially vulnerable groups, revitalizing community, and resident welfare projects.

After the inauguration ceremony, the Return Gift Selection Committee held a meeting and selected return gift items. Discussion also took place regarding evaluation criteria for supplier assessment.

The 10 types of return gifts selected at today's meeting include: ▲Suwon Pay (local currency) ▲tourism service use coupons ▲Suwon Hostel accommodation vouchers ▲city tourism souvenirs (Royal Procession business card holders, pewter soju cups, Royal Procession mini folding screens, etc.).

The city plans to recruit private suppliers in early January next year. The application period for recruitment is from January 16th to 18th. The city will recruit participating businesses in six sectors: ▲agricultural and livestock products ▲processed foods ▲city character products ▲picnic sets ▲one-day classes ▲crafts.

The city plans to complete proposal evaluation, supplier agreement signing, and system registration by the end of January next year. Once suppliers are selected through committee screening, products from those suppliers will be operated as return gifts under the Hometown Love Donation Scheme starting in February.