People Power Party vows united front against Lee Jae Myung government's TK budget

The People Power Party held back-to-back budget policy consultative meetings with North Gyeongsang Province and the city of Daegu at the National Assembly on the 11th, announcing a party-wide pledge of full support against suspicions that the Lee Jae Myung government is neglecting the TK (Daegu-North Gyeongsang) region in its budget. At the meetings, the reduction in local grants stemming from the creation of a 162 trillion won Future Response Fund emerged as the key sticking point, with the province and city requesting that specific national funds be reflected in the budget.

Jang Dong-hyuk, the People Power Party chairman, said at the meeting with the provincial government, "North Gyeongsang faces the largest cut in local grants, and we will work to ensure this is set right." He added, "Both ruling and opposition parties must join forces to realize the administrative integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang. The province has always been our party's most steadfast ally in difficult times. We will stand together as one."

Floor leader Jeong Jeong-sik pointed out that if the overhaul of the local grant system tied to the creation of the 162 trillion won Future Response Fund goes ahead, North Gyeongsang's general grant is projected to shrink by 4.5 trillion won—the largest cut in the nation. He voiced concern, saying, "The Lee Jae Myung government's budget proposal for next year threatens even local finances, the foundation of balanced national development."

North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, "Lately, the phrase 'TK bypassing' has been on everyone's lips. People say nothing is getting done under this government." He added, "Unless our party fights actively, the provinces will disappear even faster. The local grant system amounts to skimming off money the people have promised to give."

At the meeting with Daegu city, Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said of the Future Response Fund, "Claiming to prepare for the future while stripping away local governments' own future amounts to the same thing," and asked, "The People Power Party must actively help ensure that the statutory funds originally earmarked for local governments are guaranteed." He also requested the party's cooperation in including Kyungpook National University in the 'Creating 10 Seoul National Universities' project.

Following their meetings with the People Power Party, North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu city also met with Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do and Policy Committee Chairman Kwon Chil-seung, requesting passage within this year of a special law on the administrative integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang, early compensation for residents of the designated site for the relocated TK new airport, and maintenance of the local grant rate at 19.24 percent. The special integration law is currently pending in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Floor leader Han said he would look into the requests with interest, while Policy Committee Chairman Kwon said he would actively review them at the committee level.