Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly missed their Chuseok holiday deadline to process the year’s second supplementary budget bill after negotiations collapsed over welfare spending restorations and funding mechanisms, according to reports from the provincial government and the assembly.
The two sides failed to bridge their gaps during final discussions, according to joint accounts released by Gyeonggi Province and the assembly. Lawmakers failed to table the supplementary budget bill on September 18, and negotiations remained deadlocked even after the legislative session was extended through September 20.
Budget Reductions and Funding Disagreements
The provincial administration initially submitted a tightening budget proposal that slashed 5465억원을 from existing project funds, citing severe financial strain. In response, the Provincial Assembly demanded an increase of roughly 800억원가량 to restore critical items including postpartum care subsidies and public institution payrolls. Lawmakers later pared back that demand to approximately 500억원가량 by dropping personnel costs, but the executive branch maintained that the financial burden remains too high. According to the provincial government, the assembly’s restoration demands also included spending programs like the “Big Sale” retail promotion and transport support services for mobility-disadvantaged residents.
Governor Choo Mi-ae addressed the fiscal impasse during a monthly meeting, pointing out that the province faces daily interest payments of around 4억원. She stated that taking on additional debt to expand the budget is unfeasible, emphasizing that the administration must instead pay down portions of its existing Regional Development Fund borrowings, according to provincial briefings.
Legislative Stances and Apologies
Following the breakdown in talks, the Democratic Party issued an official statement under Senior Spokesperson Jeon Young, apologizing to constituents for missing the pre-Chuseok processing deadline. The party urged Governor Choo to re-examine the budget, arguing that restoring essential livelihood expenditures is necessary to prevent welfare vacuums and reduce public financial burdens.
The People Power Party released a separate statement expressing regret to residents while stressing the need to protect safety, care, and health budgets. The opposition bloc argued that public expenditures yielding high ongoing operational losses must be maintained alongside forward-looking investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and research and development, asserting that fiscal austerity requires strict priority-setting.
Assembly Speaker Nam Jong-seop issued his own appeal urging both rival negotiating blocs and the executive branch to compromise. “What we must guard against most right now is delaying decisions vital to our residents while simply repeating our respective positions,” Nam said in an official statement, adding that he will continue mediation efforts as speaker to secure a swift resolution.
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