Council Member Bae Sang-rok of Michuhol District, "There should be no 'relative deprivation' in the selection of beneficiaries... We must focus on ensuring thorough fairness"

Bae Sang-rok, a council member of Michuhol District (Democratic Party, Dohwa 1·2·3·Juan 5·6), strongly urged for fairness in the selection process of basic livelihood recipients and a fundamental improvement in the facilities for elderly welfare.

During the welfare construction committee's report at the 293rd extraordinary session of the Michuhol District Council held on the 28th, Council Member Bae directly addressed the issue of 'relative deprivation' felt by residents due to the uncertainty of selection criteria and welfare blind spots.

Council Member Bae stated, "In the field, those who appear to have assets are becoming beneficiaries, while those who are truly in need are being excluded, leading to continuous complaints regarding fairness," and emphasized, "Although the 11-member investigation team is working hard through night shifts, we need to establish a more sophisticated and fair system to ensure that no wronged residents arise beyond mere document verification." He also requested that efforts be made to focus on 'experiential promotion' so that beneficiaries can fully understand complex systems such as medical aid days.

Furthermore, Council Member Bae voiced criticism regarding the operation methods of the over 170 community centres in Michuhol District. He suggested, "We should refrain from merely expanding community centres that focus on gathering and spending time together, and instead, we need to shift the paradigm to establish 'small-scale elderly cultural centres' regionally, where seniors can enjoy cultural, health, and educational programs."

Council Member Bae added, "Rather than being preoccupied with increasing the number of community centres due to political interests, the role of administration should be to create 'high-quality welfare spaces' that can genuinely change the actions and quality of life of the elderly."

In response, a district official stated, "We are continuously developing leisure programs for community centres and will do our utmost to ensure fairness in the selection process of beneficiaries."