Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun Donates 'Hometown Love Donation' to Depopulation-Risk Regions

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun donated 'Hometown Love Donations' to depopulation-risk regions.

On the 11th, the mayor made online donations to five local governments—Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province, North Jeolla Province, Taean County in South Chungcheong Province, Haenam County in South Jeolla Province, and Pohang City in North Gyeongsang Province—using the 'Hometown Love e-um System' from his office.

Yeoncheon County, Taean County, and Haenam County are designated as depopulation-risk regions, while in North Jeolla Province, 13 out of 14 cities and counties, excluding Jeonju City, have entered the 'depopulation-risk region' category. Pohang City is both Mayor Lee Jae-jun's hometown and a sister city of Suwon.

The 'Hometown Love Donation Program,' which took effect on January 1st, allows people living away from their hometowns to donate to their hometowns or other local governments, providing donors with tax deductions at a certain rate, while recipient local governments can provide return gifts within 30% of the donation amount.

Although called the 'Hometown Love Donation Program,' donations are not limited to one's hometown. All citizens of local governments except Suwon residents can donate to Suwon, and Suwon residents can donate to all basic and metropolitan local governments nationwide except Suwon and Gyeonggi Province. Donations can be applied through online platforms (Hometown Love e-um System) and NH Nonghyup Bank reception counters.

Donors can receive a 100% tax deduction for donations up to 100,000 won, and a 16.5% tax deduction for amounts exceeding 100,000 won. A donation of 100,000 won provides benefits worth approximately 130,000 won (100,000 won in tax deduction and 30,000 won in return gifts). Only individuals can donate, with an annual donation limit of 5 million won per person.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "The goal of the Hometown Love Donation Program should be co-prosperity between major cities and depopulation-risk local governments," and "I hope the public will donate generously to depopulation-risk local governments." He added, "I will continue to donate to depopulation-risk local governments."