Busan Gijang-gun Allocates 816.4 Billion Won for Next Year's Main Budget, an Increase of 114.3 Billion Won Compared to Last Year

Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan’s Gijang-gun has allocated a total budget of 816.4 billion KRW for 2023, consisting of 748.9 billion KRW in the general account and 67.5 billion KRW in the special account, and will actively promote key projects of the 8th elected administration.

This represents an increase of 114.3 billion KRW, or 16.29%, compared to the 702.1 billion KRW budget in 2022, marking the first time the budget has exceeded 800 billion KRW.

The 2023 budget includes five key administrative directions: ▲establishing a robust welfare system from children to the elderly ▲creating a world-class tourism and cultural city ▲expanding and improving transportation infrastructure ▲revitalizing the local economy ▲realizing a safe Gijang.

Looking at the major allocations by sector, the social welfare sector has been allocated a total of 292.5 billion KRW, including ▲960 billion KRW for elderly welfare promotion ▲66.9 billion KRW for childcare support ▲44.5 billion KRW for basic living security ▲19.2 billion KRW for child welfare support ▲18.5 billion KRW for disability welfare promotion.

The general public administration, education, and safety sectors have been allocated a total of 104 billion KRW, including ▲14.1 billion KRW for the construction of the Jang-an-eup Administrative Welfare Center ▲1.6 billion KRW for the county’s share of free school meals, 2.3 billion KRW for purchasing quality ingredients, 700 million KRW for kindergarten support projects, and 3.1 billion KRW for school operation and facility support, totaling 7.7 billion KRW for education expenses ▲1.2 billion KRW for the Gijang-gun citizen health promotion support project ▲500 million KRW for the construction of the Cheolma Songjeong Village senior center ▲300 million KRW for the installation of security CCTV ▲100 million KRW for the construction of the Gijang Seoksan Village hall and senior center.

The culture and tourism sector has been allocated a total of 74.1 billion KRW, including ▲12.1 billion KRW for the creation of the County Sports Park and World Cup Village ▲12.7 billion KRW for the development of Jeonggwan Edu Park ▲5.9 billion KRW for the establishment of the Gijang Ceramics Tourism Healing Village ▲5.6 billion KRW for the creation of Ilgwang Education Happiness Town ▲5.1 billion KRW for the construction of Ilgwang Library ▲3.1 billion KRW for the restoration of Gijang Eupseong ▲2.4 billion KRW for the development of Jeonggwan Sports Healing Park.

The transportation and logistics sector has been allocated a total of 58.8 billion KRW, including ▲2 billion KRW for road construction between Gijang Daebyeon and Jukseong Intersection ▲1.7 billion KRW for the creation of a public parking lot in Jang-an Jwacheon-ri ▲1 billion KRW for the construction of the urban planning road (So 2-227 line) between Gijang Anjeoksa and Cheolma Anpyeong ▲1 billion KRW for road construction between Gijang Naeri Reservoir and Anjeoksa ▲20 million KRW for the design of the Jeonggwan Mojeon 1-ri public parking lot.

The land and regional development sector has been allocated a total of 64.9 billion KRW, including ▲12.8 billion KRW for the creation of the Dongnam Region Radiation Medical and Science General Industrial Complex ▲3 billion KRW for the creation of a climate-responsive urban forest in parks and green spaces ▲2.1 billion KRW for the maintenance of small streams (Hoenggyecheon) ▲1 billion KRW for Cheolma Anpyeong 2 Children’s Park ▲800 million KRW for the installation of nature-friendly playground facilities at Jeonggwan Sodubang Park ▲100 million KRW for the creation of the Jwagwangcheon Light Street.

The agriculture, forestry, marine, and fisheries sector has been allocated a total of 31.4 billion KRW, including ▲3.6 billion KRW for the creation of Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park ▲1.5 billion KRW for the Chilam Port Five-Sense Experience Fishing Village ▲1.4 billion KRW for the construction of Daebyeon Seafood Direct Market ▲100 million KRW for the creation of a natural recreation forest.

Additionally, 23.4 billion KRW has been allocated to the environment sector and 14.7 billion KRW to the health sector, totaling 816.4 billion KRW across 13 sectors.

Furthermore, Gijang-gun’s national and city subsidies have been increased by 21.3 billion KRW from the previous year to a total of 283.6 billion KRW.

Major national and city subsidy projects include ▲2.8 billion KRW in city funds for the Dongnam Region Radiation Medical and Science General Industrial Complex ▲1.9 billion KRW in city funds for the restoration of Gijang Eupseong ▲1.4 billion KRW in national funds and 700 million KRW in city funds for the creation of a climate-responsive urban forest in parks and green spaces ▲300 million KRW in city funds for supporting fishing village experience tourism ▲500 million KRW in national funds and 100 million KRW in city funds for public forest management to reduce fine dust.

In addition, an extra 1.4 billion KRW in special grants from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was secured in the second half of 2022.

Special grants are funds provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to local governments to cover ▲specific circumstances ▲changes in local financial conditions ▲unexpected financial demands that cannot be reflected in the calculation of ordinary grants.

Gijang-gun plans to utilize the total 3.4 billion KRW in special grants secured this time, including 700 million KRW for the installation of a traditional pavilion at Bulgwangsan exploration site and 700 million KRW for the creation of a walking trail between Jangancheon and Wolnae, as resources to smoothly promote local issues closely related to residents’ lives and disaster safety projects.

Jeong Jong-bok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, said, “The 2023 budget focuses on stabilizing the livelihood economy of residents who are struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and high interest rates, as well as building living infrastructure and strengthening the social safety net.” He added, “As this year marks the official start of key projects of the 8th elected administration, we will concentrate administrative efforts to lay the foundation for ‘Gijang, a city embracing happiness and opening the future’ and for sustainable development of Gijang.”