Choo Miae Appeals, "Let's Find Fiscal Crisis Solutions Together"...SOS Call Ahead of National Audit

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

According to the province on the 8th, Governor Choo sent personal letters to the Democratic Party lawmakers from Gyeonggi Province on this day, urging them to unite their efforts in passing through the National Assembly related bills for the three key agendas of local tax system reform.

The three key agendas are increasing the local consumption tax rate from the current 24.3% to 40.3%, transferring 5% of corporate tax to the provincial tax, and converting the local education tax for tobacco consumption tax into the regional resource facility tax for firefighting purposes. Six related bills have been recently introduced to the National Assembly.

The province expects that if the bills are passed during the regular parliamentary session and institutionalized, it will be able to secure an additional financial resource base of 14.1 trillion won over the next four years.

Governor Choo stated in her letter, "After taking office, I've been running so urgently that I've already reached 100 days," adding that "the most pressing issue that weighs heavily on me when examining the field and looking at provincial affairs one by one is Gyeonggi Province's fiscal situation."

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

She further stated, "After all, National Assembly legislation is necessary to change the structure of local finances," and added earnestly, "I sincerely request that you understand the fiscal circumstances facing Gyeonggi Province and unite your efforts so that Gyeonggi Province can overcome this difficulty."

In fact, requests for data submitted to the province for the national audit are known to be concentrated on fiscal issues.

The province explained that the personal letter also carries the intent to seek solutions to fiscal issues jointly with the National Assembly ahead of the national audit.

Spokesperson Hong Eun-gwang said, "The personal letter sent separately by the governor to the Democratic Party lawmakers in the province contains the situation and reality facing the province, what we plan to do going forward, and the intent of requesting assistance," adding, "If the lawmakers take such matters into consideration when questioning and provide sufficient opportunities to answer, wouldn't we be able to find solutions together?"