Progress Party's Jeonju City Chapter Urges Immediate Withdrawal of Senior Job Program Budget Cuts

Jeonju City's cut of 4.7 billion won from next year's senior job program budget could leave a funding gap of over 15.6 billion won — more than three times the reduction. Local contributions are tied to a matching structure linked to national and provincial funds, meaning that cutting the city's share also eliminates government and provincial subsidies. Because of this, the chapter argued, the ripple effects of the cuts would far exceed the size of the city's own reduction.

On the 11th, the Progress Party's Jeonju City chapter issued a statement urging the withdrawal of the cut plan, saying the city is "shifting the burden of its fiscal crisis onto senior citizens." The chapter pointed out that 2,823 senior jobs would disappear and 23 dedicated staff who manage the programs on the ground would also face layoffs.

The Progress Party's Jeonju City chapter drew attention to the nature of senior employment. In its statement, the chapter said, "With South Korea's elderly poverty rate among the highest in the world, senior jobs go beyond simple income generation — they are a minimal livelihood supplement and the last line of welfare defense against isolation." The chapter maintains that the harder the fiscal situation, the more the livelihood budgets of society's most vulnerable must be protected first.

The Progress Party demanded that Jeonju City fully restore the related budget and guarantee job security for senior workers and dedicated staff. The party said it will respond during the city council's budget review process.