Chu Mi-ae faces petitions amid Gyeonggi fiscal crisis

Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae is facing intense public pressure as petitions calling for her resignation and her withdrawal from the Democratic Party of Korea have both surpassed 10,000 signatures. Petitioners argue that Chu is excessively involved in central politics rather than focusing on provincial administration, budget procurement, and local welfare.

Addressing the province's fiscal difficulties, Chu attributed the deficit to a lack of communication and poor budget planning by the previous administration. She clarified that recent controversies regarding welfare budget cuts were actually due to budgets being left unallocated for the final months of the year, rather than intentional reductions.

Chu noted that structural issues, including a sharp decline in acquisition tax revenue and rising welfare costs due to Gyeonggi's growing population, exacerbate the crisis. She emphasized the need for local tax reform and improved communication between provincial departments and the provincial assembly to resolve the financial instability.