It is not the time to raise salaries amid economic difficulties
Local councilors around the country are under criticism over their greedy moves for higher pay. Many are pushing for a significant hike in their own salaries, officially claimed as expenses for their activities, for the next four years ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline. Critics are right to say these councilors are lining their pockets while turning a blind eye to the people's livelihoods hit directly by soaring food and fuel prices.
For instance, the district assembly in Daejeon's Dong District is pushing to raise monthly allowances by 1 million won ($700), an increase of 45 percent. Another district assembly in Busan and a county council in North Jeolla Province are also attempting to increase allowances by 25 percent. In contrast, the salary increase rate for local government employees stood at 1.4 percent.
Salaries for local councilors are the sum of the expenses for official activities and monthly allowances in the form of travel expenses and job remuneration. The expenses for official activities are fixed at 1.5 million won per month for municipal councilors and 1.1 million won or less for district or county councilors. However, monthly allowances are determined autonomously by a deliberation committee formed by local governments and composed of people recommended by local councils.
Almost all Koreans are tightening their belts amid looming economic woes with no end in sight. Government ministries and public agencies have also entered an austerity mode by reducing budgets and staff. Nevertheless, these local councilors appear to be interested only in their welfare while neglecting their duties, much less trying to set an example.
According to a survey by the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, voter satisfaction with local councilors' job performance was a dismal 13 percent. Nothing shows popular distrust in local councils more clearly than this figure. Now is the time for local councils to take the lead in overcoming economic difficulties while caring about people's hardships. If local councils don't do what they must and stick to raising their salaries, voters will soon begin to question their importance.
Local councilors around the country are under criticism over their greedy moves for higher pay. Many are pushing for a significant hike in their own salaries, officially claimed as expenses for their activities, for the next four years ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline. Critics are right to say these councilors are lining their pockets while turning a blind eye to the people's livelihoods hit directly by soaring food and fuel prices.
For instance, the district assembly in Daejeon's Dong District is pushing to raise monthly allowances by 1 million won ($700), an increase of 45 percent. Another district assembly in Busan and a county council in North Jeolla Province are also attempting to increase allowances by 25 percent. In contrast, the salary increase rate for local government employees stood at 1.4 percent.
Salaries for local councilors are the sum of the expenses for official activities and monthly allowances in the form of travel expenses and job remuneration. The expenses for official activities are fixed at 1.5 million won per month for municipal councilors and 1.1 million won or less for district or county councilors. However, monthly allowances are determined autonomously by a deliberation committee formed by local governments and composed of people recommended by local councils.
Almost all Koreans are tightening their belts amid looming economic woes with no end in sight. Government ministries and public agencies have also entered an austerity mode by reducing budgets and staff. Nevertheless, these local councilors appear to be interested only in their welfare while neglecting their duties, much less trying to set an example.
According to a survey by the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, voter satisfaction with local councilors' job performance was a dismal 13 percent. Nothing shows popular distrust in local councils more clearly than this figure. Now is the time for local councils to take the lead in overcoming economic difficulties while caring about people's hardships. If local councils don't do what they must and stick to raising their salaries, voters will soon begin to question their importance.
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