Government Counters Local Education Finance Redistribution Reform—Provincial Councilor Kim Seon-hee Prepares First-Ever Ordinance

Kim Seon-hee, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (People Power Party, Yongin District 6), announced on the 22nd that she will proceed with the legislative notice of the 'Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office Fiscal Soundness Ordinance' to secure long-term sustainability and transparency of Gyeonggi education finances.

According to Councilor Kim, the ordinance is being pursued as a proactive response to the deteriorating financial instability of the Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office, which depends 95.2% of its revenues on transferred income due to the ongoing overhaul of local education finance distribution. The ordinance aims to address the increase in fixed financial demands, such as new school construction and the elimination of overcrowded classrooms, as well as long-term debt burdens from lease-based private financial initiatives (BTL).

Notably, among the 16 metropolitan and provincial education offices nationwide, the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is the first to establish an independent fiscal soundness ordinance.

"Amid rapidly changing education finance conditions, there has been a lack of institutional mechanisms to systematically manage revenue shortfalls and debt risks," Councilor Kim stated, emphasizing that "it is necessary to proactively establish an institutional foundation to reduce future burdens on Gyeonggi education finances and maintain mid-to-long-term fiscal soundness."

To ensure the effectiveness of the ordinance, Councilor Kim plans to undergo in-depth deliberation with key relevant departments of the Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office, including the Planning and Coordination Division and the Finance Management Division, to enhance policy completeness.

Through this process, the detailed provisions have been carefully refined to enable practical education finance management. The ordinance includes systematic provisions for △superintendent responsibilities △education finance fund operation principles △establishment of sound finance operation plans △debt management and debt ceiling setting △establishment of a fiscal soundness committee △fiscal soundness evaluation and disclosure.

"Education finance should be a strong foundation supporting students' futures," Councilor Kim stated, adding that "through proactive debt management and planned fund operation, we will create a healthy fiscal structure that does not pass excessive debt and financial burdens to the younger generation."

Councilor Kim also expressed her commitment, stating: "As this is the first system to be attempted nationwide among education offices, I will carefully review opinions from all sectors during the legislative notice period and do my utmost to ensure the ordinance reaches final passage in the regular session on November 394 of the Provincial Assembly."