South Korean local councils seek increases in legislative allowances

Local councils in South Korea, including Buan County and various districts in Daegu, are moving to increase legislative allowances for 2027, sparking public backlash and criticism from civic groups.

In Buan County, the council's annual compensation will rise by approximately 8.8% to 43.7 million won, with monthly allowances seeing a significant 15.9% increase. While the council argues their pay is among the lowest in the Jeonbuk region, residents have expressed concerns that the increase is excessive, especially when compared to the average annual wage of local youth.

In Daegu, the Metropolitan Council has tentatively decided on a 3.5% increase for monthly allowances. Meanwhile, eight out of nine district and county councils in the region are pursuing increases, with some, such as Gunwi County, proposing hikes as high as 18%.

Civic organizations have criticized these moves, arguing that council members are prioritizing their own financial interests while local governments face fiscal crises and residents struggle with high inflation. Critics have called for compensation adjustments to be tied to performance metrics, such as legislative achievements and fulfillment of campaign promises, rather than simply following civil servant pay raise trends.