Kim Dong-yeon Criticizes "Regional Currency Budget Distribution Standards" Announced by Interior Ministry as Unfair and Lacking Common Sense

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon has begun criticizing the fairness of regional currency budget allocations.

Governor Kim said through SNS, "The 'regional currency budget distribution standards' announced by the Interior Ministry are, in a word, content that deviates from fairness and common sense," and argued, "The policy goals of regional currency are 'supporting self-employed workers and small merchants' and 'revitalizing the local economy.' Budget should be allocated to support more ordinary citizens, small merchants, and self-employed workers."

He continued, "According to the differentiated distribution standards, Gyeonggi Province's national treasury support budget for regional currency will be cut by nearly 100 billion won as it becomes 'half of half' compared to last year. This means that only less than 10 percent of the budget is being provided to 1.86 million small merchants in Gyeonggi Province, which accounts for over 25 percent of the nation's small merchants."

Governor Kim emphasized, "We must not strip away even the minimum safety net from small merchants in the Gyeonggi region who are already facing difficulties," and stressed, "The Yoon Suk Yeol administration must absolutely reconsider this unreasonable and inequitable decision."

Below is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<Regional Currency Budget Should Be Allocated Fairly>

Today, ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, I visited Yongin Central Market.

Everyone says the economy is difficult. For these people, regional currency is already a verified minimum safety net.

The government cut the entire regional currency budget of 705 billion won. Only half of that, 352.5 billion won, barely survived at the Democratic Party's request.

However, the 'regional currency budget distribution standards' announced by the Interior Ministry the other day is, in a word, content that deviates from fairness and common sense.

The government says it will provide differentiated support for regional currency budgets based on each local government's fiscal conditions and population status. The policy goals of regional currency are 'supporting self-employed workers and small merchants' and 'revitalizing the local economy.' Budget should be allocated to support more ordinary citizens, small merchants, and self-employed workers.

According to the differentiated distribution standards, Gyeonggi Province's national treasury support budget for regional currency will be cut by nearly 100 billion won, becoming 'half of half' compared to last year. This means that only less than 10 percent of the budget is being provided to 1.86 million small merchants in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for over 25 percent of the nation's small merchants.

We must not strip away even the minimum safety net from small merchants in the Gyeonggi region who are already facing difficulties. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration must absolutely reconsider this unreasonable and inequitable decision.