Mokpo Councilor Park Hyosang Proposes Hair Wig Purchase Subsidy for Cancer Patients
- Mokpo City Council member Park Hyo-sang (democratic Party of Korea, Yongdang 1, Yongdang 2, Yeon, Samhak-dong) is actively engaged in legislative activities, addressing issues such as the enactment...
- On March 13, 2025, at the 396th Extraordinary session of the Mokpo City Council, Park Hyo-sang proposed the "Mokpo City Cancer Patient Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance."
- This ordinance, the first of its kind in South Jeolla Province, is already in effect in 22 othre local governments nationwide.
Park Hyo-sang Advocates for Cancer Patients and Fair Budgeting in Mokpo
Table of Contents
- Park Hyo-sang Advocates for Cancer Patients and Fair Budgeting in Mokpo
- Park Hyo-sang: Championing Cancer Patients and fair Governance in Mokpo – Q&A Guide
- Q&A on Park Hyo-sang’s Key Initiatives:
- What is the “Mokpo City Cancer Patient Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance” introduced by Park Hyo-sang and what does it aim to achieve?
- How much financial support is provided to cancer patients under the ordinance and who is eligible?
- What concerns did Park Hyo-sang raise regarding the allocation of funds for senior centers in Mokpo?
- What was Park Hyo-sang’s argument against the allocation of funds in the new downtown area?
- What amendment did Park Hyo-sang propose to the “Mokpo City Cultural Arts Center Management and Operation Ordinance” and why?
- What factors have historically challenged the development of local politics in South Korea?
- What is the structure of local governments in South Korea?
- What are the administrative divisions of South Korea?
- Key Details Summary
- Q&A on Park Hyo-sang’s Key Initiatives:
Mokpo City Council member Park Hyo-sang (democratic Party of Korea, Yongdang 1, Yongdang 2, Yeon, Samhak-dong) is actively engaged in legislative activities, addressing issues such as the enactment of an ordinance to support wig costs for cancer patients and raising concerns about the fairness of senior centre budget allocations.
Ordinance Introduced to Support Cancer Patients’ Wig Expenses
On March 13, 2025, at the 396th Extraordinary session of the Mokpo City Council, Park Hyo-sang proposed the “Mokpo City Cancer Patient Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance.”
This ordinance, the first of its kind in South Jeolla Province, is already in effect in 22 othre local governments nationwide.
Previously, while pediatric cancer patients received partial support for wig purchases through medical expense assistance, adult cancer patients did not recieve such support.
Cancer patients experience mental distress due to hair loss during chemotherapy.We aim to boost their self-esteem and encourage their will to fight the disease by providing wig purchase support to adult cancer patients as well.
Under the ordinance, Mokpo city residents diagnosed with cancer who meet the cancer patient medical expense support criteria and submit a doctor’s note confirming the need for a wig due to hair loss can receive ₩500,000 in support.
Concerns Raised Over Senior Center Budget Allocation
During the budget explanation process for the first supplementary budget of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee, Park Hyo-sang also pointed out the inequitable allocation of funds related to senior centers.
The construction of senior centers is a long-standing project in every neighborhood. Currently, the elderly population in Mokpo’s new downtown area is in the 10% range, while in the old downtown area, it ranges from 30-40%. However, the recent supplementary budget included ₩280 million for the purchase of land for senior centers in Shinheung-dong and Hadang-dong, and also ₩30 million for environmental improvement projects for senior centers.
When building senior centers, priority should be given to considering the economic circumstances of local senior citizens and the proportion of elderly people living alone.Adding senior centers to specific new downtown areas based on petitions without a valid reason is illogical.
Amendment Proposed for Cultural Arts Center Management Ordinance
park Hyo-sang also introduced an amendment to the ”Mokpo City Cultural Arts Center Management and Operation Ordinance.”
The key aspect of the revised ordinance is the inclusion of young artists in the composition of the operating advisory committee, a rare occurrence in other committees.
The Cultural Arts Center is used by people of all ages, but the composition of the operating advisory committee was not diverse.We revised the ordinance to encourage the participation of young people and reflect their unique ideas.
Local Governance and Grassroots Democracy
The development of local politics in South Korea has faced challenges due to ancient events such as the Korean War (1950-53), the students’ uprising (1960), the May 16 military coup (1961), and the military coup of 1979. Despite these setbacks, local governance remains a crucial aspect of evolving grassroots democracy.
South Korean Local Governments
South Korea’s high-level local governments consist of:
- One Special city
- Six Metropolitan Cities
- One Special Self-Governing City
- Eight Provinces
- Two Special self-Governing Provinces
This totals 17 governing councils. The head of a city is the mayor, and the head of a province is the governor.These local government heads are elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term.
Administrative Divisions
The administrative divisions of South Korea include:
- Provincial Level:
- Province
- Special Self-Governing Province (Jeju, Gangwon and North Jeolla)
- Special City
- Metropolitan City
- Special Self-Governing City
- Municipal Level:
- Specific City
- City
- County
- Autonomous District
- Submunicipal Level:
- Administrative City
- Non-autonomous District
Park Hyo-sang: Championing Cancer Patients and fair Governance in Mokpo – Q&A Guide
This article explores Park Hyo-sang’s initiatives as a Mokpo City Council member, focusing on his advocacy for cancer patients, fair budget allocation, and youth involvement in local governance.
Q&A on Park Hyo-sang’s Key Initiatives:
What is the “Mokpo City Cancer Patient Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance” introduced by Park Hyo-sang and what does it aim to achieve?
Answer: Park Hyo-sang proposed the “Mokpo City Cancer Patient Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance” on March 13, 2025, during the 396th Extraordinary session of the Mokpo City Council.This ordinance aims to provide financial assistance to adult cancer patients in Mokpo for the purchase of wigs. The goal is to alleviate the mental distress caused by hair loss during chemotherapy and boost their self-esteem and will to fight the disease. It’s the first ordinance of its kind in South Jeolla Province, mirroring similar initiatives in 22 other local governments nationwide.
How much financial support is provided to cancer patients under the ordinance and who is eligible?
Answer: Under this ordinance, eligible Mokpo city residents diagnosed with cancer can receive ₩500,000 in support for wig purchases. To be eligible, patients must meet the cancer patient medical expense support criteria and provide a doctor’s note confirming the necessity of a wig due to hair loss.
What concerns did Park Hyo-sang raise regarding the allocation of funds for senior centers in Mokpo?
Answer: Park Hyo-sang raised concerns about the inequitable allocation of funds for senior centers during the budget clarification process for the first supplementary budget. He pointed out that while the elderly population is considerably higher in the old downtown area (30-40%) compared to the new downtown area (around 10%),the supplementary budget included substantial funds (₩280 million) for land purchase for senior centers in the new downtown areas of Shinheung-dong and Hadang-dong,along with ₩30 million for environmental improvement projects.
What was Park Hyo-sang’s argument against the allocation of funds in the new downtown area?
Answer: Park Hyo-sang argued that priority should be given to the economic circumstances of local senior citizens and the proportion of elderly people living alone when building senior centers. He suggested that adding senior centers to specific new downtown areas based solely on petitions, without a valid and equitable reason, is illogical. he advocated for a more needs-based approach to allocation.
What amendment did Park Hyo-sang propose to the “Mokpo City Cultural Arts Center Management and Operation Ordinance” and why?
Answer: Park Hyo-sang introduced an amendment to include young artists in the composition of the operating advisory commitee of the mokpo City Cultural Arts Center. This is aimed at diversifying the committee’s viewpoint and ensuring that the center’s operations reflect the ideas and needs of all age groups,especially young people. As Park Hyo-sang noted, the Cultural Arts Center is used by people of all ages, and this change encourages youth participation and incorporates their unique ideas.
What factors have historically challenged the development of local politics in South Korea?
Answer: The development of local politics in South Korea has faced challenges due to past events, including:
The Korean War (1950-1953)
The students’ uprising (1960)
The May 16 military coup (1961)
The military coup of 1979
What is the structure of local governments in South Korea?
Answer: South Korea’s high-level local governments consist of:
One Special City
Six Metropolitan Cities
One Special Self-Governing City
Eight Provinces
Two special Self-Governing Provinces
In total, there are 17 governing councils. The head of a city is the mayor, and the head of a province is the governor. These local government heads are directly elected by popular vote for a four-year term.
What are the administrative divisions of South Korea?
Answer: The administrative divisions of South Korea are structured in a three-tiered system:
- Provincial Level:
province
Special Self-Governing Province (Jeju, Gangwon and North Jeolla)
Special City
Metropolitan City
Special Self-Governing City
- Municipal Level:
Specific City
City
County
Autonomous District
- Submunicipal Level:
Administrative City
Non-autonomous District
Key Details Summary
| Initiative | Description | Beneficiaries | Funding/Support |
| ———————————————– | ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— | —————————————————— | ——————————————————– |
| Wig Purchase Cost Support Ordinance | Provides financial assistance for wig purchases to cancer patients experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy. | Mokpo City residents diagnosed with cancer meeting eligibility criteria | ₩500,000 per eligible patient |
| Senior Center Budget Allocation Concerns | Raises concerns about the inequitable allocation of funds for senior centers, advocating for a needs-based approach focusing on elderly population and economic circumstances. | Elderly residents of Mokpo | N/A - Advocacy for revised budget allocation |
| Cultural Arts Center Management Ordinance Amendment | Includes young artists in the operating advisory committee to ensure diverse perspectives and youth involvement in the center’s operations.| Young artists and residents of Mokpo | N/A – Aims to diversify committee composition |