Gangseo-gu Introduces Child Participatory Budgeting System for 2021 Budget Planning

Business Contest for Children and Adolescents Open Until July 22

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) has newly introduced the ‘Child Participation Budget System’ to allow children and adolescents to participate in the budget formulation process and is focusing on soliciting proposed projects.

Since 2011, the district has been promoting a resident participation budget system to ensure transparency and fairness in finances by involving residents in budget formulation.

The ‘Child Participation Budget System’ targets children and adolescents aged 9 to under 18, aiming to actively collect opinions from children and adolescents who have relatively low participation in the resident participation budget system.

When children and adolescents propose projects they have directly thought of, the projects are finally selected through public debates and reviews by the Child Participation Committee.

Children and adolescents can directly participate and express their opinions throughout all these processes.

The proposed projects are small-scale projects with a total budget of 50 million KRW, actively utilizing ideas from children and adolescents in various fields such as culture, education, human rights, environment, and safety.

The application period is until July 22, and submissions can be made by visiting the Education and Youth Division or the local community center in person, by mail (302 Hwagok-ro, Gangseo-gu, Gangseo-gu Office Annex 5th floor), or by email (gaeng43@gangseo.seoul.kr).

Submitted opinions will be reviewed in August by the relevant departments for necessity, feasibility, and practicality of the projects, followed by a public debate in September where project explanations and voting on preferred projects will be conducted.

The proposed projects will be finally selected through voting results and the Child Participation Committee’s review and reflected in the 2021 budget plan.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song of Gangseo-gu said, “We have started soliciting proposed projects to directly listen to and reflect the opinions of children and adolescents in the budget formulation process,” and added, “We hope for the interest and participation of many youths.”

Gangseo-gu Office Education and Youth Division