(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Cha Min-ji = Among the local extinction response funds, a differential distribution method based on investment plan evaluation was introduced for the first time in the metropolitan support account provided to cities and provinces.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced on the 11th that 50 billion won from the metropolitan support account will be distributed differentially according to the results of the evaluation of investment plans by provinces and cities.
The Local Extinction Response Fund is a financial resource created in the amount of 1 trillion won annually from 2022 to 2031 to support region-led local extinction response.
It is divided into a basic support account of 750 billion won and a regional support account of 250 billion won distributed to cities and provinces excluding Seoul and Sejong.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security distributed 150 billion won out of the 250 billion won in regional support accounts using a formula based on population and financial conditions, and invested 100 billion won in a regional revitalization investment fund.
This year, it was decided to reduce the fund investment to 50 billion won and distribute the remaining 50 billion won differentially according to the results of the evaluation of city and provincial investment plans.
In this evaluation, we focused on whether cities and provinces play a 'metropolitan role' by discovering and planning projects from the perspective of the entire region and leading connections and cooperation between cities and counties.
We comprehensively evaluated the actual planning and coordination role of cities and provinces, the necessity and effectiveness of metropolitan-level promotion, and the discovery and feasibility of projects suited to local conditions and residents' needs.
As a result of the evaluation, Gangwon and South Chungcheong were selected as the best regions and each received 6.6 billion won.
The excellent regions of Busan, Daegu, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju will each be allocated 3.4 billion won.
Among Gwangju, Jeonnam, the former Gwangju region and Daejeon, Ulsan, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongbuk are evaluated as ‘average’ and receive KRW 2.6 billion each, while Incheon and the former Jeonnam region among Jeonnam Gwangju are evaluated as ‘good’ and receive KRW 1.7 billion each.
Gangwon and South Chungcheong Provinces received high praise for playing a leading role in coordinating and supporting projects at the metropolitan level that are difficult for local governments to pursue on their own and in expanding inter-regional cooperation.
Gangwon is creating a 'Resident Happiness Village' in Yeongwol and Hwacheon, a living area base that links living services such as housing, medical care, care, and transportation. The province plans projects together with cities and counties and participates in resource sharing and performance management.
South Chungcheong Province is promoting projects based on local demand, such as resident happiness villages in Boryeong and Cheongyang and integrated care using artificial intelligence (AI). Through the 'Regional Vitality Project Planning Support Group', we also support local problem diagnosis, project discovery and planning, and expert consulting in 9 cities and counties.
Other cities and provinces also presented medical and living service projects that can be used by various regions.
Gyeongnam is expanding the rehabilitation medical base by supporting the ‘Gyeongnam Public Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital’, and North Chungcheong is operating a ‘running general store’ that visits vulnerable areas with low food accessibility. Incheon proposed a transportation system support project connecting Ongjin-gun, Yeongjong-gu, and Jemulpo-gu.
Minister of Public Administration and Security Yoon Ho-jung said, "The introduction of the evaluation of the regional support account for the local extinction response fund is intended to enable cities and provinces to plan projects considering the entire region and lead cooperation between cities and counties to improve the performance of local extinction response."
