Jeju provincial council members’ annual compensation in the 68-million-won range; new standards for the next four years to be reviewed starting next year

【Financial News, Jeju — Reporter Jeong Yong-bok】 With Jeju provincial council members’ annual compensation calculated at around 68.23 million won this year, a review has begun to set new payment standards for the four years starting next year. The size of any increase in the fixed monthly allowance and whether to seek residents’ views are key issues.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 15th, 10 members of the council remuneration review committee were appointed and held their first meeting that day at Halla Hall in the provincial government office. The committee will determine the types of remuneration and payment standards for Jeju provincial council members from 2027 through 2030.
Jeju provincial council members’ remuneration currently consists of a fixed monthly allowance for their official duties and a legislative activity allowance that covers expenses needed for their legislative work. Unlike the salary system for ordinary civil servants, which is based on rank and pay grade, the remuneration is paid according to standards set by the council remuneration review committee and incorporated into an ordinance.
According to the Nara Salim Research Institute, which analyzed data released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, remuneration per Jeju provincial council member last year totaled 66.94 million won annually, comprising about 42.94 million won in fixed monthly allowances and 24 million won in legislative activity allowances.
This year’s fixed monthly allowance reflects the 3.0% civil servant pay increase in the previous year, 2025. The previous review committee decided that the fixed monthly allowance for each year from 2024 to 2026 would reflect the civil servant pay increase in the preceding year.

Under these standards, this year’s fixed monthly allowance works out to about 3,686,000 won per month, or about 44.23 million won per year. Adding the monthly legislative activity allowance of 2 million won brings the total to about 5,686,000 won per month, or about 68.23 million won per year. Travel expenses for official business are paid separately and are not included in the remuneration calculation.
The legislative activity allowance is a fixed-sum payment to cover expenses required for collecting and researching legislative materials and for related support activities. In 2024, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council raised the monthly payment from 1.5 million won to 2 million won as part of a reform of the relevant system.
The fixed monthly allowance is paid for local council members’ official duties, including reviewing ordinances and budgets and conducting administrative audits. Official expenses for council operations incurred by the leadership and standing committee chairs are covered by a separate budget and are distinct from the remuneration paid to individual council members.
The current review committee was formed by the governor of Jeju Province and the speaker of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council, each selecting five people from nominees recommended by academia, the legal profession, the media and civic groups, among others.
The committee will determine the payment standards by considering in combination local residents’ income levels, the pay increase rate for local government civil servants, inflation and the provincial council’s record of legislative activity.

In particular, if next year’s increase in the fixed monthly allowance exceeds this year’s 3.5% pay increase for local government civil servants, residents’ views must be sought through a public hearing or an objective and fair public opinion poll.
The committee plans to complete its review by the end of November and notify the governor of Jeju Province and the provincial council speaker of its decision. Jeju Province will disclose the decision, and the provincial council will revise the relevant ordinance and apply it from next year.
The key challenge is how to balance local income and fiscal conditions with appropriate compensation for council activities. In addition to the increase rate, the objectivity of the payment standards and how they reflect the results of council members’ work are also key criteria for this review.


[email protected] Jeong Yong-bok Reporter