Mayor Choo Kyung-ho Meets MOIS Vice Minister to Discuss the Future Response Fund and Other Key Issues

【Financial News Daegu=Reporter Kim Jang-wook】"I oppose using the local subsidies allocated to local governments for the Future Response Fund."
Mayor Choo Kyung-ho heard the government’s position on the Future Response Fund from Kim Min-jae, vice minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who visited Daegu City Hall on the 8th. He conveyed his opposition to using local subsidies intended for local governments for the fund.
He also called for an active role and support from the central government on regional issues, including the promotion of Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration and the expansion of local finances.
Mayor Choo emphasized, "During this meeting, I made it clear that a fund for the future must not take away the future of local governments. I will continue consulting with the central government so that key regional tasks, including Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration and the expansion of local finances, can make tangible progress."
Kim, who visited Daegu, requested the local government’s active cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of the Future Response Fund. In response, Mayor Choo said he agreed with the purpose of the fund but made clear that the creation of the fund must not reduce the own-source revenue that should be allocated to local governments under the current local subsidy standards.
He also stated that resources that must be allocated to local governments under the current Local Subsidy Act should be distributed first, and that the Future Response Fund should then be operated using the remaining increase in national tax revenue.
In particular, regarding the promotion of Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration, Mayor Choo asked MOIS to actively support the passage, during the 2026 regular session of the National Assembly, of the Special Act on the Establishment of Daegu–North Gyeongsang Integrated Special City, which is pending before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly.
Finally, he conveyed the need to expand local finances. Mayor Choo explained that the prolonged downturn in the real estate market has led to a continued decline in acquisition tax revenue, while legally mandated and obligatory expenditures—including welfare costs, personnel expenses, and local contributions to nationally funded projects—have increased, placing a growing burden on fiscal management. He called for expanding own-source revenue by securing stable local subsidies and raising the ratio of local taxes.

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