It has been confirmed that Gyeonggi Province requested its 31 cities and counties to hang banners displaying Chuseok holiday greetings from Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae, just five days after declaring a fiscal emergency.

As controversy erupted over asking for active cooperation in promoting the governor while cutting provincial funding for various projects due to fiscal difficulties, Gyeonggi Province ultimately decided not to hang the banners.

Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae declared a fiscal emergency for the province on August 5.

However, about five days later, around August 10, Gyeonggi Province sent an official document to the 31 cities and counties titled "Request for Cooperation in Posting on Outdoor Administrative Bulletin Boards."

The document requested that banners promoting provincial administration be displayed on administrative banner boards operated by each city and county ahead of Chuseok.

This also included banners featuring Governor Choo's Chuseok greetings.

Gyeonggi Province asked each municipality to review whether the banners could be displayed and to reply with designated display locations.

Some cities and counties reportedly tallied and submitted the number of bulletin boards available for banner installation, while others did not respond, stating that it was inappropriate to hang the governor's holiday greetings on administrative bulletin boards.

The controversy grew as Gyeonggi Province is currently carrying out intensive fiscal restructuring.

The provincial government is pursuing a plan to cap provincial subsidy rates for municipal subsidized projects at a maximum of 30% in principle next year.

With an estimated 421 out of 961 municipal subsidized projects affected based on this year's figures, the 31 cities and counties are also pushing back, citing increasing financial burdens.

Gyeonggi Province's postpartum care subsidy, which provided 500,000 won per newborn, will also end with applications submitted by the end of this month.

Under these circumstances, the province drew criticism for attempting to utilize municipal administrative bulletin boards for the governor's holiday greetings and provincial administration promotion.

Gyeonggi Province explained that all costs for production and posting were to be covered by the province, and that the primary purpose of the official document was to assess the current status of administrative bulletin boards in each city and county in advance.

It stated that Governor Choo's holiday greeting banners were merely an idea of "why not give it a try," and while there were no formal protests from cities and counties, it decided not to display promotional banners on municipal bulletin boards this Chuseok in consideration of various circumstances.

Gyeonggi Province explained that all costs for production and posting were to be covered by the province, and that the primary purpose of the official document was to assess the current status of administrative bulletin boards in each city and county in advance.

It also stated, "The document was routinely sent by the department director without being reported to the governor," adding, "The governor became aware of it in advance through the chief of staff's office and sent another official letter on August 20 directing that the banners not be displayed."

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News