15 Gyeonggi Provincial Municipal Leaders Announce Joint Statement Opposing Local Budget Contributions to Nuri Program

Fifteen municipal leaders of the Democratic Party in Gyeonggi Province announced a joint statement opposing the injection of local government funds into the Nuri Program.

Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, Gimpo Mayor Yu Young-rok, and others held a press conference on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Hall to criticize the government, stating that "having the government shift its responsibilities to local government violates the principle of proper division of duties between the state and local governments."

They also urged Gyeonggi Province to abandon its attempt to bear the Nuri Program budget first until a fundamental solution is implemented.

They pointed out that while urgent provincial issues are piling up in Gyeonggi Province, if the province is forced to shoulder the burden of universal welfare, which is a national responsibility, it may end up having to turn a blind eye to projects that residents truly want and need.

The joint statement urged the national and central governments to "listen to the voices of local governments committed to enhancing citizens' quality of life" and emphasized that "the Nuri Program must be the responsibility of the nation to prevent local autonomy from being undermined."

The 15 local governments in Gyeonggi Province that participated in the joint statement are Seongnam, Goyang, Gwangmyeong, Gimpo, Dongducheon, Bucheon, Suwon, Siheung, Ansan, Osan, Uiwang, Uijeongbu, Icheon, Hanam, and Hwaseong.

Notably, Suwon City, which stated that it would emergency allocate 1.59 billion won in "Nuri Program Operating Budget" earmarked in this year's municipal budget if Gyeonggi Province's Nuri Program budget is not finalized by mid-month, also participated in the statement, drawing attention.

Suwon City's participation was reported to reflect an unwavering commitment to the principle that the central government should allocate the Nuri Program budget.