The Seohaegu District Council holds a rally in front of Incheon City Hall on Tuesday, calling for a swift resolution to a fund settlement dispute between Seohaegu and Geomdan-gu and urging the city to take concrete fiscal measures. [Seohaegu District Council]
The Seohaegu District Council holds a rally in front of Incheon City Hall on Tuesday, calling for a swift resolution to a fund settlement dispute between Seohaegu and Geomdan-gu and urging the city to take concrete fiscal measures. [Seohaegu District Council]

The Seohaegu District Council in Incheon has urged the city government to provide emergency fiscal support and expedite a fund settlement with neighboring Geomdan-gu, as a dispute over delayed payments and budget shortfalls threatens to disrupt essential public services.

Concerns are mounting that core administrative services directly affecting residents could be disrupted, with the standoff marking a significant escalation in fiscal tensions between the two local governments.

The council held a rally in front of Incheon City Hall on Tuesday, with all members in attendance, calling for a swift resolution to the fund settlement dispute between Seohaegu and Geomdan-gu and demanding that Incheon take substantive fiscal measures. The council delivered a resolution to the city and requested a meeting with Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae.

The rally was a follow-up to an emergency meeting on Seohaegu's fiscal situation held Monday.

The Seohaegu district mayor and budget division officials attended that meeting, where participants discussed ways to stabilize fiscal operations — including securing city subsidies for essential second-half expenditures and resolving the fund settlement issue with Geomdan-gu.

The council said Incheon failed to actively mediate fiscal problems that arose during the administrative restructuring process, shifting the burden onto the district and its residents.

Particularly at risk, the council said, are expenditures in essential administrative and welfare areas, including staff salaries, waste disposal costs and disability activity support payments.

The council called for the immediate launch of an inter-agency consultative body, prompt resolution of the fund settlement dispute, priority repayment of settlement funds and emergency support for essential expenses.

The council's position is that Incheon, not individual districts, must take the lead in finding a solution rather than leaving the fiscal burden on each borough.

The council also said it would pursue legal and administrative action, including litigation, alongside the district office if Incheon fails to produce concrete measures.

"We will take every possible step to protect residents' welfare and fiscal rights," said Ko Seon-hui, speaker of the Seohaegu District Council, urging Incheon to act swiftly and decisively.


gilbert@heraldcorp.com