The project to pay an "economic recovery grant of 300,000 won per citizen," which Dangjin Mayor Kim Gi-jae in South Chungcheong Province pledged during the local election, was blocked by the city council.
The Dangjin City Council held the second plenary session of its 129th extraordinary session on the 11th and reviewed the "Ordinance on the Payment of Dangjin Economic Recovery Grants" submitted by the city. It was voted down after failing to secure a majority in favor.
All seven city council members from the Democratic Party of Korea voted in favor, while all seven members from the People Power Party voted against.
Mayor Kim Gi-jae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a press conference the day before, "This decision was made after seeing the lives of each and every citizen who is enduring day by day in Dangjin's alley markets; it is a golden time for people's livelihoods that needs resuscitation," adding, "As this involves a considerable amount of citizen tax money, I take its weight more seriously than anyone, but the most important role of public finance is to spend properly for citizens at the necessary moment."
In the debate before the vote, Democratic Party of Korea council members said, "The payment of economic recovery grants was also a pledge put forward by the People Power Party candidate (former Mayor Oh Seong-hwan) during the local election," arguing, "Voting down the local government ordinance betrays the trust of citizens who thought they would receive the grant regardless of who was elected, and is an unjustified attempt to hobble the city administration."
People Power Party council members opposed it, saying, "It is hard to see that Dangjin's current economic indicators have deteriorated to the point that grants must be paid to all citizens," and, "As a total of 53 billion won would be funded entirely by the city budget, we must carefully examine funding plans, the stimulus effect, and fiscal priorities."