Minister Park Hong-geun of the Ministry of Planning and Budget said that even if the future response fund is exhausted, the government can continue financial support for necessary projects through the general account or other funds.
Minister Park met with reporters after finishing a meeting with the leadership of the council of university presidents at Pusan National University on the 10th and said, "Projects funded by the future response fund are projects that, even if the fund is depleted, can be carried out through the general account or other funds if needed," adding, "We will allocate them as projects that fit the nature of the fund, but if the National Assembly raises issues during the review process, we will examine them together."
He added, "Because the future response fund is based on tax revenue expanded by the semiconductor super-boom, it is only natural that if there is no more revenue, it will inevitably be depleted at some point," and said, "For now, we cannot predict when it will run out."
Regarding backlash from local governments over the grant-in-aid (non-earmarked tax) reform, he said, "Local revenues will continue to grow in the future," adding, "We will manage and operate within a scope that does not undermine local autonomy."
Earlier, at Pusan National University, Minister Park met with the leadership of the council of university presidents and said the government would continue to invest the resources secured through the reform of the grant-in-aid (earmarked tax) for educational finance in the education sector. He said, "We will never cut the grant-in-aid (earmarked tax)," adding, "We will keep increasing it from the previous year, and if tax conditions worsen and it shrinks, we will make up the difference with state finances." He continued, "We will not use the secured resources elsewhere but invest them in education to make it a stepping stone toward becoming a powerhouse of talent."
The government plans to manage the resources from the reform of the grant-in-aid (earmarked tax) for educational finance under the "education and talent account" within the future response fund and expand higher education investment by 18.4%, from 16.3 trillion won this year to 19.3 trillion won next year. Funds will go to strengthening the competitiveness of regional universities, scholarships for local students, and nurturing talent in AI and advanced fields.
At a roundtable for essential medical personnel held at Pusan National University Hospital, Minister Park said, "As much as the nation recognizes the seriousness and importance of medical gaps in the regions caused by concentration in the capital area, we will take good care of this through state finances if necessary."
Minister Park said, "As concentration in the capital area has intensified, many doctors who were in the regions have left," adding, "When you think it is late, in some ways it can also be early." He continued, "We expanded 3.6 trillion won in fee compensation that can go to essential regional medical personnel by restructuring the health insurance fee schedule," adding, "Along with this, we created a 1.3 trillion won special account for essential regional medical care in next year's budget plan."
The special accounts will be operated in three main directions. First, 360 billion won will be newly invested in the "local-led support project to fill medical gaps" so that local governments can directly plan and promote essential medical projects that meet local needs. Minister Park said, "We will move away from the uniform support approach of the central government and significantly strengthen the role of local governments."
Investment in regional hub national university hospitals will also be expanded from 115.4 billion won this year to 255.1 billion won next year. Medical personnel will likewise be trained with a regional focus. In addition to tuition, students selected as regional-track doctors will receive support for housing and education costs, and support such as utilizing senior doctors will also be expanded to fill the gap until regional doctors are trained.
Minister Park said, "People say we need to improve settlement conditions, and one of the core elements is medical care," adding, "It is very important for balanced national development to cultivate regional hub hospitals like Pusan National University Hospital that residents truly need and trust."