Seodaemun-gu, 2023 Budget Plan Set at 753.8 Billion Won

[Seoul District News] Seodaemun-gu's 2023 Budget Proposal Increases by 9.1% Compared to This Year & First Budget Proposal Reflecting the 8th Term District Administration Submitted to the Council... Dobong-gu's First Budget Proposal for the 8th Term Set at 791.9 Billion Won, Up by 52.7 Billion Won from This Year Active Investment for Strengthening Social Safety Nets, Revitalizing Local Economy, and Establishing Regional Development Roadmap

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 16th that it has prepared a 2023 budget of 753.8 billion KRW and submitted it to the 285th Seodaemun-gu Council 2nd regular session (November 11 to December 21).

This represents an increase of 62.9 billion KRW (9.1%) compared to the 2022 budget. Under the principle of sound finance, the district aims to implement key policy tasks of the 8th elected term and strengthen investments to improve residents' safety and quality of life.

One-time expenditures expanded due to COVID-19 and habitual financial expenditures have been adjusted to secure available resources, which will be invested in supporting vulnerable groups and expanding resident convenience facilities.

The 2023 budget of the district focuses on five major areas. First, for a "Vibrant Economy and Mutual Growth," it includes ▲the largest-ever issuance cost of Seodaemun Love Gift Certificates (80 billion KRW) ▲9 billion KRW for unsecured special guarantees and interest-free loan second compensation for small business owners ▲33 million KRW for fostering Yeongcheon Market and Pobangteo Market.

Also included are ▲22 billion KRW for public job projects for seniors and others ▲850 million KRW for operating the 50 Plus Center for middle-aged adults ▲530 million KRW for purchasing and operating new senior club business sites.

For "Lifelong Care and Welfare," the budget includes ▲customized welfare by life cycle (243.1 billion KRW) ▲protection for vulnerable groups (86.6 billion KRW) ▲support for infant care such as parental allowances and child benefits (52.2 billion KRW) ▲27 billion KRW for newborn first meeting use vouchers.

It also allocates funds for ▲basic pension payments (125.5 billion KRW) ▲new installation and operation of the "Together Care Center" for children (2.7 billion KRW) ▲construction of Gajaeul Daycare Center (2 billion KRW) ▲operation and maintenance of the Dementia Relief Center (1.7 billion KRW) ▲design services for the construction of the Hongje Hong-eun area comprehensive childcare facility (430 million KRW).

Furthermore, to realize an "Education and Culture Portal," the budget plans to promote ▲cultural events such as the Independence Festa (730 million KRW) ▲support for community sports (2.3 billion KRW) ▲modernization of the Culture and Sports Center facilities (1.6 billion KRW) ▲creation of Baekryeon Park Golf Course (670 million KRW) ▲construction of a metaverse natural history museum (500 million KRW). It also allocates funds for ▲improving educational environments and supporting free school meals (11.6 billion KRW) ▲construction and operation of the Gajaeul Youth Center (2.3 billion KRW) ▲operation of the Convergence Center and Lifelong Learning Center for Life Care (1 billion KRW).

For "Creating a Pleasant Residential Environment," the budget includes ▲5 billion KRW for establishing a basic plan for the three-dimensional complex development for the undergrounding of the Gyeongui Line ▲100 million KRW for bus route system reform ▲3.5 billion KRW for road expansion and opening near Geumhwa Tunnel in Sinchon-dong ▲900 million KRW for reorganizing road space on Hong-eun Jungang-ro and Ganho-daero ▲620 million KRW for creating a music caf? and landmark on Hongjecheon Stream ▲500 million KRW for creating Ansan Healing Road ▲150 million KRW for creating a dog walking path and rest area.

For "Disaster Prevention," the 2023 budget includes ▲300 million KRW for building IoT sensor systems for flood and fire detection ▲260 million KRW for creating smart safe walking paths ▲1.9 billion KRW for installing and operating security CCTV ▲5.7 billion KRW for managing aging infrastructure such as road facilities ▲6.8 billion KRW for repairing sewage structures.

Mayor Lee Seong-heon of Seodaemun-gu said, "In these difficult times, we will do our best to ensure that precious tax money is not wasted even a little." The budget submitted by Seodaemun-gu will be finalized at the council plenary session on the 21st of next month after review by the district council.

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) has prepared a 2023 budget proposal of 791.9 billion KRW and submitted it to the district council.

The 2023 budget proposed by Dobong-gu is 791.9 billion KRW. This is an increase of 52.7 billion KRW (7.14%) compared to this year's original budget of 739.2 billion KRW, aiming to quickly restore daily life from COVID-19 and strengthen future investments for the district's change and growth.

Amid the 'three highs' economic crisis of high inflation, high exchange rates, and high interest rates, the district plans to protect socially vulnerable groups who are facing unprecedented difficulties, and revitalize the local economy by supporting youth as the future generation and traditional markets as the backbone of the neighborhood economy. The goal is also to focus investments on making Dobong-gu a safe and competitive city.

Looking at the major budget status by sector, to create a safe and healthy happy city, 161.6 billion KRW is allocated for basic pension support, 14.4 billion KRW for child allowance support projects, and 10.1 billion KRW for expanding senior jobs and social activity support.

Ten billion KRW has been allocated for six projects aimed at proactively discovering welfare blind spots and building social safety nets. Through the operation of the Our Neighborhood Care Team, welfare recipients will be monitored through visits, and advanced equipment such as IoT devices will be used to prevent solitary deaths. The social welfare sector alone accounts for 55% of the total budget, amounting to 435.5 billion KRW.

In response to worsening climate change and the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act (January 26, 2022), the budget actively reflects funds for proactive prevention activities against natural disasters and social disasters.

To establish the district's own safety and health management system, a total of 900 million KRW has been allocated, and 500 million KRW has been set aside for safety inspections of apartment complexes, construction sites, various roads, rivers, and sewage facilities to proactively eliminate risk factors and focus on preventive safety management. The contingency fund for disasters and accidents has been increased by 2.8 billion KRW compared to the previous year (from 4.2 billion KRW to 7 billion KRW) to prepare for unpredictable disasters and accidents.

To create a convenient and balanced development city in terms of transportation, 5.3 billion KRW will be invested in road construction projects such as at Banghak-dong 179-5, 2.3 billion KRW for constructing public parking lots in low-rise residential areas to alleviate parking difficulties, and 500 million KRW for improving bus stop usage environments including Dobong-type smart shelters. To dramatically improve transportation accessibility for Dobong residents, 250 million KRW has been allocated for a feasibility study on the Dobongsan Station express train.

In the high-quality education and culture city sector, 7.7 billion KRW is allocated for eco-friendly school meals and school facility environment improvements, and 2.4 billion KRW for promoting Dobong-type after-school activities involving schools and communities. The district plans to reduce parents' private education expenses through internet CSAT broadcast fees and native English video learning support, and provide diverse and systematic admission information to students and parents through entrance briefing sessions and career guidance programs. The Ssangmun-dong indoor sports center, with a budget of 2.4 billion KRW, is expected to be completed in May next year and contribute to the activation of community sports.

To create a vibrant and mutually prosperous economic city, 4.3 billion KRW is allocated for Seoul citizens' safe jobs and community jobs projects, 2 billion KRW for issuing Dobong Love mobile gift certificates, 1.3 billion KRW for creating shared kitchens to support youth employment and startups, 200 million KRW for operating a startup incubation center supporting new entrepreneurs with startup education and rent support, and 100 million KRW for improving the environment of clothing and sock manufacturing companies.

To systematically promote youth policies, 2.4 billion KRW has been allocated for establishing a youth support center and supporting youth facilities. Through feasibility studies and basic planning for the construction of a youth complex gymnasium, the district will expand healthy leisure activity spaces for youth.

Given that 2023 is expected to be a year of difficult fiscal conditions due to economic recession and high financial demand for supporting vulnerable groups, Dobong-gu has maximized fiscal efficiency through "strategic financial management" by cutting where possible and properly spending where necessary.

To this end, event and festival expenses and direct public sector expenses have been reduced by 2.3 billion KRW compared to the previous year. The saved funds have been actively invested in resources for socially vulnerable groups such as supporting certification exam fees for unemployed youth (500 people, up to 100,000 KRW per person), new support for air sterilizers in daycare centers (434 units), expanded health management support for mothers and newborns (715 households, from 300,000 KRW to 350,000 KRW), providing care robots for seniors (40 units), and disability child-rearing support funds (1.2 million KRW annually for 49 people).

Mayor Oh Eon-seok of Dobong-gu said, "Despite the difficult financial situation due to worsening domestic and international economic conditions, we have prepared the budget focusing on projects that must be promoted for residents and the future of Dobong through expenditure structure adjustments. We will do our best to recover the difficult livelihood economy and push forward projects for Dobong's future."