The plan pushed by Dangjin Mayor Kim Gi-jae to pay a "300,000 won economic recovery grant per resident" was voted down by the city council. With Dangjin needing about 53 billion won to pay the grant to all residents, lawmakers from the two main parties split 7-7.
The Dangjin City Council held the second plenary session of its 129th extraordinary meeting on the 11th and reviewed the "local government ordinance on the payment of Dangjin economic recovery grants" submitted by the city. The vote was seven in favor and seven against, failing to secure a majority and thus was rejected.
All seven members from the Democratic Party of Korea voted in favor, and all seven members from the People Power Party voted against.
Mayor Kim Gi-jae held a press conference the day before and appealed for the passage of the local government ordinance. Kim said, "This is a judgment made after seeing the lives of each and every resident holding on day by day in Dangjin's neighborhood markets," adding, "It is a civil livelihood golden time that needs resuscitation."
She added, "Because this involves no small amount of residents' taxes, we are taking its weight more seriously than anyone," and noted, "Using it properly for residents when it is needed is the most important role of finance."
Democratic Party of Korea members also stressed the need to pay the grant. They said, "Paying the economic recovery grant was a campaign pledge put forward by the People Power Party candidate during the local elections," adding, "Voting down the local government ordinance betrays residents' trust."
People Power Party members, on the other hand, opposed it, citing the fiscal burden and policy effectiveness. As the entire 53 billion won would be funded by the city budget, they said the financing plan, stimulus effect, and fiscal priorities need to be examined.
In particular, People Power Party members argued that, rather than rushing to make payments before Chuseok, the city should gather residents' opinions and analyze the policy's effects. They said uniform support that does not account for income or the extent of damage undermines administrative fairness and could weaken the capacity to support vulnerable groups.
Earlier, on the 8th, the Industrial and Construction Committee also rejected the local government ordinance on a tie vote. Considering the gravity of the matter, it was then placed on the plenary agenda by authority, but the vote again split on Wednesday, and it was ultimately rejected.
Dangjin plans to collect residents' opinions on the local government ordinance and then decide whether to revise it.