(The CEN News / Reporter Lee Seung-ryeol)
A Busan City Council member has urged reforms to the way unmanned traffic enforcement cameras are funded and operated, calling on both municipal and national authorities to address the current financing structure.
Councilor Kim Jae-woon pressed for change during a five-minute statement at the plenary session of the 335th extraordinary meeting on April 22, arguing that it is inequitable for local governments to bear installation and operating costs while revenue from fines is remitted to the national treasury.
Kim said Busan operated 1,286 unmanned traffic enforcement devices last year, a 2.7-fold increase from 477 in 2021. Over the past three years, the city spent about 7.1 billion KRW (approximately $5.33 million) on installation and operations and absorbed the full maintenance bill of 4.8 billion KRW (approximately $3.60 million).
However, fine revenue accrues to the central government. From 2021 through 2025, Busan issued a total of 410.9 billion KRW (approximately $308.18 million) in traffic fines, of which 318.3 billion KRW (approximately $238.73 million) originated from unmanned enforcement devices. Last year’s collections amounted to 52.9 billion KRW (approximately $39.68 million), all of which were transferred to the national treasury (410.9 billion KRW (approximately $308.18 million); 318.3 billion KRW (approximately $238.73 million); 52.9 billion KRW (approximately $39.68 million), respectively).
“Local governments shoulder the costs but do not see the revenue returned,” Kim said. “A portion of those fines should be converted into local tax revenue and reinvested in traffic-safety infrastructure.”
He urged Busan to coordinate with other cities and provinces in pressing the National Assembly and the central government for sustained institutional reform, saying that restructuring the financing model is the essential first step toward meaningful implementation of the autonomous police system.
(The CEN News) Reporter Lee Seung-ryeol ottnews@kakao.com
