President Lee Jae-myung recently said on the third anniversary of the Osong underpass disaster, "We will prepare to the point it may seem excessive so that such accidents do not recur." The disaster was caused by the collapse of the embankment of the nearby national river, the Mihocheon.
However, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment reportedly requested the Ministry of Planning and Budget to cut next year's maintenance budget for national rivers by 15%. Before the ministry drafts next year's budget bill, each ministry submits its requested amounts. They present in advance the funds needed for each major project.
This runs counter to what President Lee ordered. It is reported that this is because the climate ministry has been evaluated as having managed the project poorly, including failing to spend its budget on time.
◇ National river maintenance project advised for "reduction" in fiscal project evaluation
According to ChosunBiz reporting compiled that day, the climate ministry reportedly requested 252.406 billion won for next year's national river maintenance project from the Ministry of Planning and Budget. It asked for a 15% cut from this year's budget (296.948 billion won). The national river maintenance project repairs and maintains river facilities such as embankments on national rivers damaged by heavy rains. Most of the budget is used as local government subsidies.
This is because, in the integrated fiscal project evaluation by the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the project was classified as subject to reduction. The integrated fiscal project performance evaluation integrates the fiscal project evaluations each ministry previously conducted separately, assesses the necessity, planning, execution, and performance of projects mainly through external private experts, and reflects the results in budget formulation and expenditure restructuring. The ministry introduced it this year to enhance the objectivity and effectiveness of fiscal projects.
The evaluation results fall into five categories: normal progress, project improvement, reduction, abolition, and integration. Reduction, abolition, and integration become targets for expenditure restructuring, and projects advised for reduction are recommended to cut their budgets by at least 15% from this year.
The national river maintenance project was reportedly advised for "reduction." The evaluation team said, "Over the past three years, the execution rate has averaged in the 70% range, indicating persistent structural under-execution." It also noted, "National subsidies are being provided similarly by local government, so selective disbursement is needed."
A climate ministry official said, "We plan to pursue selective disbursement of national subsidies reflecting the evaluation team's opinion," adding, "The reduced budget is at a level that does not hinder carrying out the project."