Gyeonggi Province Cultural Voucher Project Shows Low Budget Execution Rate

The budget execution rate for Gyeonggi Province's cultural voucher project, implemented with national funding, has been found to be in the 30 percent range.

This is attributed to weak commitment from cities and counties as well as insufficient publicity targeting beneficiaries.

Since April, the province has been issuing cultural cards with an annual limit of 50,000 won to economically and socially disadvantaged groups, including basic living security recipients and those in near-poor households. However, as of the 17th, the cumulative card issuance reached only 65,098 cards, or 73.9 percent of the target, according to findings released on the 25th.

In particular, the execution amount from cards issued and used totaled 1.421 billion won, representing only 32.2 percent of the project budget of 4.406 billion won.

By city and county, execution rates fell below 30 percent in 18 areas: Yeoncheon County at 6.8%, Anseong City at 16.7%, Pocheon City at 17%, Dongducheon City at 19.6%, Ansan City at 19.6%, Gwangju City at 19.9%, Gapyeong County at 20.1%, and Yangpyeong County at 22%.

Among these, three areas—Yeoncheon County (23.1%), Gwangju City (47.2%), and Anseong City (44.9%)—showed particularly poor issuance rates, falling short of 50 percent.

In contrast, Bucheon City, where the city and neighborhood community centers took direct action, completed 100 percent of card issuances within one month of project implementation, achieving an execution rate of 54.1 percent.

The province attributed the poor performance in many cities and counties to insufficient publicity targeting households in need of cultural cards.

Low interest from local leaders, resulting in poor cooperation between public officials handling social welfare and cultural voucher programs, is also cited as a contributing factor.

In response, the province urged all cities and counties on that day to promote the project through various media outlets, including local broadcasters, newspapers, and mobile text messages.