Choo Mee-ae Seeks Help Finding Solutions to Financial Difficulties...Sends "SOS" Ahead of National Audit

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mee-ae, marking her 100th day in office, sent personal letters to 51 Democratic Party lawmakers from Gyeonggi Province requesting legislative cooperation for restructuring the local tax system.

According to the Province on the 8th, the governor sent personal letters to the Democratic Party National Assembly members from within Gyeonggi Province that day, urging them to work together on the passage through the National Assembly of revised bills related to three major initiatives for restructuring the local tax system.

The three major initiatives are a plan to raise the local consumption tax rate from the current 24.3% to 40.3%, a plan to transfer 5% of corporate tax to the metropolitan local tax, and a plan to convert the local education tax for tobacco consumption into a regional resource facility tax for firefighting. Six related bill amendments have been recently submitted to the National Assembly.

The Province expects that if the bills pass during the regular parliamentary session and are institutionalized, it will secure an additional revenue base of approximately 14.1 trillion won over the next four years.

In her personal letter, Governor Choo stated, "Having rushed forward so busily since taking office, I've reached 100 days before I knew it," and added, "As I examine the field and scrutinize provincial administration one by one, the issue that weighs most heavily on me is Gyeonggi Province's finances."

She continued, "This is a critical issue that requires fundamentally changing the revenue structure and the local finance system itself," emphasizing the necessity for structural reform of local finances.

She then noted, "Ultimately, legislative action by the National Assembly is necessary to change the structure of local finances," and added, "I earnestly request that you understand Gyeonggi Province's financial situation and join forces so that the province can overcome this difficulty."

In fact, information requests received by the Province for the National Audit are known to be concentrated on financial issues.

The Province explained that this personal letter also carries the intent of seeking solutions to fiscal issues jointly with the National Assembly ahead of the National Audit.

Spokesperson Hong Eun-gwang stated, "The governor's personal letter sent separately to the Democratic Party National Assembly members from within the province contains information about the situation and reality facing the province and what will be done going forward, along with a request for assistance," and added, "If the members also take such aspects into account when questioning and provide sufficient opportunity for answers, we will be able to find solutions together, won't we?"