"Please Restore the Budgets for the 120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center and Seoul Office" Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook Makes Rare Public Appeal

【Financial News Ulsan = Choi Soo-sang】 Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook unusually called a press conference to appeal for the restoration of the budgets for the '120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center Advancement Project' and the 'Seoul Office,' which were fully cut by the council’s standing committee.
The '120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center' project was signed by Mayor Kim Sang-wook as the first approval item after the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration on July 1. Kim criticized the budget cut, calling it "an act that undermines the mayor’s determination to keep his promise to citizens."
At a press conference held at the press center of Ulsan City Hall on the afternoon of the 11th, Mayor Kim repeatedly emphasized that the move was "not a political attack" and stated, "Ahead of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, this is the last way I can appeal earnestly to the citizens."
Earlier, the Ulsan Metropolitan Council’s Administrative and Autonomous Affairs Committee fully cut 122.422 million won for the 120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center Advancement Project and 31.094 million won in personnel operating expenses for the Seoul Office included in the supplementary budget. The committee cited the need to first establish ordinances, the scope of duties, and a responsibility framework before expanding the 120 Haeuri Call Center into the '120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center.' For the Seoul Office, it cited inconsistencies between the recruitment process and the budget allocation.
Mayor Kim said, "It is highly unusual for a budget cut at the standing committee stage to be restored by the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. Nevertheless, I make this final appeal because I earnestly believe these projects are essential for citizens."
Mayor Kim emphasized that, since taking office, he had mobilized his chief secretary and senior political affairs secretary to visit council members individually and hear their views in an effort to pass the supplementary budget.
He asked rhetorically, "Among previous mayors, has anyone mobilized even the chief secretary and senior political affairs secretary to visit council members one by one?" He explained that, to strengthen communication, he had hired a political affairs secretary from the People Power Party and opened positions at affiliated public institutions to figures from the People Power Party.
He added, "If more communication is needed, I will increase the number of political affairs secretaries," and said, "If there is anything the council wants, please tell me, and I will serve you even more diligently."
Regarding the 120 Ulsan Civil Complaints Center Advancement Project, Mayor Kim stressed, "The plan is to go beyond the existing telephone-based call center and reorganize it into a comprehensive civil complaints channel that handles not only complaints but also policy proposals and reports of corruption, and goes into the field when necessary." He added, "Citizens need a place to appeal their grievances when the audit function is not operating properly," and argued, "Since there is no legal problem and it has been operated in a similar manner before, it is not right to block the project itself on procedural grounds."
Mayor Kim also expressed strong concern over the budget cut for the Seoul Office. He said, "Nationally funded projects require an immediate response in Seoul, but unless we can teleport, a permanent response base is absolutely necessary," adding, "If this year’s budget allocation falls through and is postponed until next year, the one-year gap cannot be recovered."
At the end of the press conference, Mayor Kim said, "I absolutely do not want to pick a fight with the council," adding, "I know very well that the council’s power is far greater than mine." He continued, "I did not hold a press conference when the agendas of the Public Deliberation Committee and the Labor Policy Committee were rejected," and explained, "I arranged this event today because I judged that this matter is that important and urgent."
He concluded by saying, "I sincerely hope that this matter will serve as an opportunity for a more cooperative relationship with the council," and repeatedly urged, "Since the budget committee process is still underway, please restore the budgets for these two projects at this stage."
Meanwhile, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts of the 267th Ulsan Metropolitan Council First Regular Session, which will handle the supplementary budget, will meet for two days on the 14th and 15th.

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