Suncheon City Secures Record High National Budget of 676.3 Billion Won for Next Year

Increase of 121 billion KRW Compared to Previous Year, Most Ongoing Projects Including Garden Expo Secured

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon is meeting with Song Young-gil, the leader of the Democratic Party, at the National Assembly. (Photo by Suncheon City)

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Heo Seok) secured a national budget of 676.3 billion won for next year, an increase of 121 billion won from this year's 555.3 billion won, providing momentum for major pending projects such as laying the foundation for the success of the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo, the 3E Project, and the creation of an ecological and garden city.

According to Suncheon City on the 6th, the secured national budget includes a total of 676.3 billion won, comprising 233.6 billion won for 61 general pending projects, 53.7 billion won for 74 projects under the National Balanced Special Account, 155.7 billion won for SOC projects to expand infrastructure, and 233.3 billion won for annual and repetitive projects in social welfare and agriculture sectors.

In particular, the timely enactment of the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo and the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act, which were primarily proposed by Representative So Byeong-cheol, greatly helped secure the budget. Additionally, efforts by Representative Seo Dong-yong and Special Budget and Accounts Committee member Representative Shin Jeong-hoon resulted in an additional 14.2 billion won secured for eight projects.

Major increased projects in the National Assembly include ▲Creation of the Korean Peninsula Crater Garden with 1.2 billion won (total project cost 6 billion won), ▲Reconstruction of Suncheon Bay Bridge with 4 billion won (total project cost 20 billion won), ▲Creation of Suncheon City Ecological Garden with 1.6 billion won (total project cost 8 billion won), ▲Additional creation of fine dust blocking forests with 1 billion won (total project cost 2 billion won), ▲Outdoor garden creation project with 1.5 billion won (total project cost 1.5 billion won), ▲Improvement of livestock manure public treatment facilities with 520 million won (total project cost 650 million won), ▲Support for the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Committee with 4.3 billion won (total project cost 4.3 billion won), and ▲Improvement of Nak-an Sangsa District local road facilities with 100 million won (total project cost 44.4 billion won).

Major pending projects include ▲Construction of Magnesium Commercialization Support Center with 2 billion won (total project cost 15.5 billion won), ▲Electrification of the Gyeongjeon Line with 120 billion won (total project cost 1.77 trillion won), ▲Electric vehicle distribution project with 4 billion won (total project cost 6.6 billion won), ▲Creation of Smart Green City with 4.2 billion won (total project cost 12 billion won), ▲Creation of fine dust blocking forests with 1.5 billion won (total project cost 3 billion won), ▲Operation and management of the National Garden with 4 billion won (total project cost 8 billion won), ▲Restoration project of damaged areas in Suncheon Bay Hwapo waters and Dongcheon estuary with 3.5 billion won (total project cost 9 billion won), and ▲Support for hosting the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo with 4 billion won (total project cost 46.7 billion won). These projects will accelerate the completion of major pending projects based on the ecological economy during the 7th local government administration.

Major projects under the National Balanced Development Special Account and Living SOC include ▲Construction of Suncheon City Old Downtown Cultural Station with 2 billion won (total project cost 23.5 billion won), ▲Construction of the Ocheon District Complex Platform with 2.2 billion won (total project cost 32 billion won), ▲Construction of Shindae Library with 1.9 billion won (total project cost 18 billion won), ▲Suncheon Bay National Garden Nightscape Project with 2.4 billion won (total project cost 5.2 billion won), ▲Creation of indoor gardens at the National Garden with 2.5 billion won (total project cost 13.5 billion won), and ▲Construction of Jeonnam-Suncheon Biosphere Reserve Management Center with 3 billion won (total project cost 7.4 billion won). These projects will smoothly proceed to promote balanced urban development and improve citizens' quality of life.

Since applying for the national budget for next year, Suncheon City has continuously visited Jeollanam-do, central government ministries, and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, led by department heads and section chiefs, to explain projects and build consensus. During the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's review stage, Vice Mayor Lim Chae-young led the effort with working-level department heads to visit the budget department, supplement project plans, and actively secure national funds.

In particular, Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon City has made every effort to secure the national budget through meetings with Ando-geol, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Choi Byung-am, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, Koo Yoon-chul, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as well as Park Wan-joo, Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party, Song Young-gil, Party Leader, and other Suncheon-related and acquaintance members of the National Assembly.

Mayor Heo Seok said, “Despite the increasingly difficult situation in securing government budgets due to domestic and international economic conditions and changes in government policies, we were able to persuade the National Assembly and government and achieve visible results by moving quickly and responding strategically. In particular, the activities of Representatives So Byeong-cheol and Seo Dong-yong had a significant impact. We will do our best to successfully host the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo, promote balanced urban development, and improve citizens' quality of life through the recovery of the stagnant real economy by steadily carrying out pending projects.”