"We Have a Big Problem," Says Governor Choo Mi-ae, Requesting 244.6 Billion Won in Additional Central Government Funding

Governor Choo Mi-ae of Gyeonggi Province met with Lee Gwang-jae, chair of the National Assembly Budget Committee, on the 9th to explain 10 major central government-funded projects, including personnel expenses for labor inspectors, and requested a total increase of 244.6 billion won in central government funding.

Governor Choo's visit to the National Assembly marks her second move to secure central government funding, following her meeting with Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun in July. The visit aims to explain the necessity of major Gyeonggi Province projects and request cooperation in increasing central government funding and reflecting projects in the budget ahead of National Assembly deliberation of the government's budget proposal for next year.

Upon meeting Lee Gwang-jae, chair of the Budget Committee, Governor Choo greeted him by saying, "We have a big problem," and immediately laid out a list of 10 major central government-funded projects for Gyeonggi Province in 2027, methodically persuading him of the need for support.

Governor Choo first raised the issue of personnel expenses for labor inspectors. She stated, "The labor inspector position is a project for which President Lee Jae-myung emphasized necessity during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province, making Gyeonggi Province a pilot region. We are recruiting 170 personnel to be placed in the field in the first half of next year, but there is no personnel expense plan. Labor inspection is a state-delegated affair. Personnel expense support is necessary. While there is talk of using fines collected at worksites as personnel expenses, it is unstable. We need 20.5 billion won in central government funding."

Governor Choo secondly requested personnel expense support for delinquent tax collection activities. She stated, "Our staff are employed on fixed-term contracts with no personnel expense support whatsoever. We are requesting 50% central government funding support. We are not simply collecting delinquent taxes; we are conducting concurrent livelihood-type fact-finding investigations, so we are carrying out government work to strengthen the social safety net. This provides the basis for 50% central government funding support," she emphasized.

Third, she mentioned the long-awaited Northern Gyeonggi Metro project (Dobongsan-Okjeong, Line 7 extension), stating, "Construction costs are set too low, and even compensation fees and tunnel lining cement casting costs are not properly reflected. A 17.8 billion won increase is essential for opening within the promised timeframe."

Among the 10 projects Governor Choo proposed that day, three items totaling 89 billion won—personnel expenses for labor inspectors (20.5 billion won), local tax and non-tax revenue delinquent collection support projects (4.8 billion won), and Nuri Course childcare cost subsidy projects (63.7 billion won)—are items not reflected in the 2027 government budget proposal. The remaining seven projects have a total of 388 billion won reflected in the government budget proposal, and Gyeonggi Province's request for an increase is 155.6 billion won.

Governor Choo explained that since firefighters became national civil servants, Gyeonggi Province, where more than 20% of the national workforce is concentrated, has borne the burden of personnel expenses (11.1 trillion won annually) and project costs as before, and highlighted the vulnerability of relying on acquisition taxes for 51% of tax revenue due to weaker corporate local income tax sources compared to Seoul, emphasizing the need for restructuring the tax base.

In response, Budget Committee Chair Lee Gwang-jae said, "I will take good care of it. I will make active efforts regarding the need to expand the Northern Gyeonggi railway network, support for childcare for children under eight, and support for residents of greenbelts. (Regarding Gyeonggi Province's proposals,) let me hear the position of the Planning and Budget Office first, and let's meet once more to discuss."

Separately from Governor Choo's activities, Gyeonggi Province previously held a "2027 Gyeonggi Province Major Central Government-Funded Projects Briefing Session" in July at the National Assembly, presided over by Vice Minister of Administration Kim Seong-joong, targeting aides of congressional representatives from Gyeonggi Province districts, and continues to pursue efforts to secure central government funding for next year.