Rep. Park Seoung-hyo of the ruling Saenuri Party

By Oh Chung-sook

Rep. Park Seoung-hyo of the ruling Saenuri Party said he’s been sticking to his initial commitment of devoting himself to the development of  his hometown of Daedeok. For an instance, he said he talked related economic ministers through solutions to the pending long-standing issues of the area, like the securing of 13.5 billion won in the 2014 budget for the advancement of a metropolitan railway project in the Chungcheong area. 

The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsWorld and Rep. Park, a member of the National Assembly Security and Public Administration Committee, in which he spoke of his parliamentary activities and roles for the development of his constituency of Daedeok.

Question: A measure on the revision of the Act on Local Grant Taxes whose proposal you spearheaded has been app-roved by the National Assembly. Will you give us details?

Answer:  The amendment calls for a 1 percent reduction in special local grant taxes and a 1 percent increase in ordinary local grant taxes allocated to local governments. The revision is designed to readjust local grant tax sharing ratios and enhance the efficient management of local grant taxes so that local governments can ease the financial difficulties they experience and meet rising welfare demands. 

The initial version of the measure, stipulating a 2 percent reduction in special local grant taxes and a 2 percent rise in ordinary local grant taxes, would have secured 655.2 billion won in additional local grant taxes given to local governments on the basis of the 2013 budget. 

The original version, approved by the Ministry of Security and Public Admini-stration, was changed due to opposition from some opposition party members. Negotiators have agreed to a changed version calling for a 1 percent reduction in special local grant taxes and a 1 percent increase in ordinary local grant taxes, resulting in halving additional local grant taxes allocated to local governments from 655.2 billion won to 327.6 billion won. 

Q:  What benefits will the passage of the amendment of the Act on Local Grant Taxes bring to local governments?

A:  It will have an impact of securing some 320 billion won to stabilize local governments’ financials, particularly from the long-term perspective. The Daejeon Metro-politan Government is expected to receive an additional 5 billion won in local grant taxes from the central government on a yearly basis. 

Q:  Why was the original version of the bill watered down?

A: The original version would have brought greater benefits to local governments. It was regretful that the original version failed to obtain approval from the National Assembly due to opposition by a few opposition party members.

But I will do my best to increase the local grant tax sharing ratio from the current 19.24 percent of domestic tax revenues on a gradual basis. 

Q:   Will you elaborate on a bill to amend the Act on Local Autonomy that got throu-gh the plenary session of the parliament?

A:  The amendment of the Act on Local Autonomy bans the central government’s customary transfer of all costs related to newly creating, expanding, relocating, and managing central government organizations, affiliates, and public enterprises to local governments.

Here are examples of the central government’s attempt to transfer financial burden for the implementation of state projects to local governments: a 50 percent cost sharing of the 730 billion won cost for purchasing the site of the planned International Science & Business Belt to the Daejeon Metropolitan Government; and a demand for the Daegu Metropolitan Government to fully shoulder the costs for purchasing the site and constructing the planned Neuroscience Research Institute.

Q:   What effects will the revision bring about?

A: The revision of the Act on Local Autonomy is expected to rectify the practice of the central government’s transferring the overhead costs related to newly creating, expanding, relocating, and managing central government organizations, affiliates, and public enterprises to local governments in the name of taking matching funds.

Q:  Will you introduce things you did for the development of your constituency and your constituents during 2013?

A: First of all, all of the 28 Saenuri Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong area have joined forces to expand the number of constituencies in the region. I’ve played a leading role in proposing a measure to revise the Act on the Election of Public Positions. 

Here are some of the 16 bills I played a leading role in proposing, including the passage of the Special Act on Sejong City:

I played a part in setting aside 30 billion won for purchasing the site of the International Science and Business Belt in the 2013 supplementary budget. In particular, I proposed the establishment of a science, ICT and future science complex within Expo Science Park in Daejeon, paving the way for the installation of the Institute for Basic Science.

I talked related economic ministers through solutions to the pending long-standing issues of the area, like the securing of 13.5 billion won in the 2014 budget for the advancement of a metropolitan railway project in the Chungcheong area, the creation of Hoedeok Interchange, and a project to renovate the old Daejeon Industrial Complex. 

I suggested the New Daedeok Plan, designed for the development of my constituency of Daedeok-gu, Daejeon Metro-politan City, in line with the new government’s policies and public pledges. The plan calls for constructing the tentatively named East-West Prosperity Road to instill growth momentum in the backward areas of Daedeok-gu; renovation of a road cutting through the Daejeon Industrial Complex; the construction of public rental housing complexes; and the establishment of transfer systems for the efficient construction of metropolitan railway networks in the Chungcheong area, among others. 

I supported the appropriation of 64.3 billion won for 27 projects in the 2014 budget for my constituency. 

Q: What do you plan to do for the deve-lopment of your constituency this year?

A: I’ve been showing my appreciation for the votes my constituents gave me in the 2012 general election to become the first Saenuri Party lawmaker of the constituency in 10 years, and President Park Geun-hye’s victory in the 2013 presidential election, reminders of the fact that the Chungcheong area should not have been neglected or given unfavorable treatment. 

I’ve been sticking to my initial commitment of devoting myself to the development of my hometown of Daedeok.