Choo Mi-ae on disability budget controversy: “Not finalized; also considering issuing local bonds”

[Financial News] Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae sought to quell controversy on the 30th over the proposed full cut to next year’s 12.7 billion won budget for jobs for people with severe disabilities, saying, “Nothing has been finalized yet.” After criticism came from disability groups and within the Democratic Party, she left open the possibility of making up the shortfall through measures such as issuing local bonds.
Speaking to reporters after a policy forum on reforming the local tax system at the National Assembly that day, Governor Choo was asked about concerns within her party over cuts to the disability budget. “We haven’t finished putting the budget together yet,” she explained. “Because available funds are insufficient, we couldn’t even include large-scale projects in the budget.”
She went on to describe Gyeonggi Province’s fiscal situation: “I have 50 won in my pocket right now, while the amount that needs to be covered is 1,000 won.” She reiterated, “We’re in the process of issuing local bonds to cover what needs to be covered. Nothing has been finalized.”
Controversy erupted after funding for the “rights-based customized public jobs for people with severe disabilities” project was entirely excluded from Gyeonggi Province’s first adjustment plan for its 2027 main budget. A total of 857 people with severe disabilities took part in the project this year, and concerns have been raised that they could lose their jobs if the funding is not included in the final budget.
There was also public criticism from within the Democratic Party. At a Supreme Council meeting on the 26th, Supreme Council member Seo Mi-hwa took aim at Governor Choo, saying, “It’s very difficult to bear the criticism that she is just like Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who fired 400 workers with severe disabilities overnight,” and urged her to maintain the budget. Disability groups also held a rally outside the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building, calling for the budget to be guaranteed.
In response, Governor Choo said on social media (SNS), “I will look more carefully at budgets related to people with disabilities and take special care to ensure that people with disabilities and their families do not face difficulties in their lives.” Asked that day whether she was consulting with relevant groups, she replied, “We’re still at the stage of discussing internally what to do,” adding, “I understand that, when they hear that funds are short, each group may become anxious and feel that its own needs should come first.”

[email protected] Jiwon Song Reporter