Gangbuk-gu Allocates 914.9 Billion Won Budget for 2024... Focus on 'Gangbuk-style Development'

Discovering and Promoting District Growth Models Utilizing Outstanding Natural Environments like Bukhansan and Uicheon, and Historical and Cultural Resources
Budget Proposal Focused on Creating a Vibrant and Livable City with Timely Financial Investment Despite Difficult Conditions

Seoul's Gangbuk-gu District Office (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) has prepared a 2024 budget of 914.9 billion KRW. This represents an increase of 25.6 billion KRW (2.9%) compared to this year. It is the smallest growth rate since 2012. Although the total amount has increased, due to a decrease in local taxes and local grants available for independent projects, the district stated that it handled the budget preparation more cautiously than ever before.

Despite difficult financial conditions, the district focused on discovering and promoting growth models that utilize its unique characteristics when preparing the budget. In particular, 2024 will focus on "Gangbuk-style development." The district plans to devote efforts to regional development by creating attractions using natural environments such as Bukhansan Mountain and Uicheon Stream, and attracting tourists through local festivals.

Especially, the district plans to carefully manage key projects of the 8th elected administration, such as attracting the new Gangbuk Line and supporting redevelopment and reconstruction, while also thoroughly overseeing resident-centered projects like revitalizing the local economy, customized welfare, and creating a safe city.

The 2024 budget consists of 906.3 billion KRW in the general account and 8.6 billion KRW in the special account. Among these, the social welfare budget is about 547.2 billion KRW, accounting for the largest share at 59.8% of the total budget.

Looking at the budget by sector, first, 58.8 billion KRW is allocated to general public administration. Major projects include ▲ office building operations (2.8 billion KRW) ▲ operation of Gangbuk-gu Urban Management Corporation (13.3 billion KRW) ▲ transfer to the office building construction fund for public and official use (15 billion KRW), among others.

A total of 3.7 billion KRW is allocated to public order and safety, including ▲ river facility maintenance (900 million KRW) ▲ disaster preparedness and safety management (400 million KRW) ▲ transfer to disaster management fund (1 billion KRW), etc.

The education sector has a total budget of 9.6 billion KRW, supporting projects such as ▲ educational expense subsidy support (3 billion KRW) ▲ eco-friendly school meal support (4.2 billion KRW) ▲ promotion of Gangbuk Future Education District (500 million KRW).

The culture and tourism sector is allocated 18.4 billion KRW, with major projects including ▲ Autumn Night Concert (300 million KRW) ▲ operation of Gangbuk Cultural Foundation (3.5 billion KRW) ▲ operation of Gangbuk-gu Comprehensive Sports Center (2.2 billion KRW) ▲ construction of Dobong Tax Office Multipurpose Sports Center (300 million KRW) ▲ support for outsourced operation of district libraries (1.4 billion KRW), among others.

The environment sector will receive a total of 47.7 billion KRW, covering ▲ treatment of household and food waste and recyclables (27.7 billion KRW) ▲ maintenance and environmental improvement of Solbat Neighborhood Park (800 million KRW) ▲ creation of Gonggam Children's Playground (700 million KRW) ▲ planting of roadside flowers (900 million KRW) ▲ repair of sewage facilities (2.7 billion KRW), etc.

The social welfare sector, which holds the largest share, has a total budget of 547.2 billion KRW for projects such as ▲ Seoul Companion Job Project (6.6 billion KRW) ▲ support for National Basic Livelihood Security including living and housing benefits (136 billion KRW) ▲ infant and toddler childcare fee support (20.6 billion KRW) ▲ basic pension project (193.3 billion KRW) ▲ support for home care costs under Long-term Care Insurance for the elderly (7.2 billion KRW) ▲ disability pension support for severely disabled persons (9.7 billion KRW) ▲ construction of Beondong Youth Culture House (7.7 billion KRW).

Additionally, the health sector is allocated 16.8 billion KRW, agriculture, forestry, and marine fisheries 500 million KRW, industry, small and medium enterprises and energy 12.2 billion KRW, and transportation and logistics 16.2 billion KRW in the 2024 budget. The final budget will be confirmed at the Gangbuk-gu Council plenary session on December 19.

Gangbuk-gu Mayor Lee Soon-hee stated, "Our district has achieved several visible results this year, but the greatest outcome is the change in perception that 'we can do it too.' Although next year's financial conditions are expected to be difficult due to the government's fiscal tightening, we will focus more on 'Gangbuk-style development' that fully utilizes our district's unique attractions such as nature, history, and culture, and do our best to create a vibrant and livable Gangbuk-gu."

[Reference Materials]

1. 2024 Gangbuk-gu Budget Allocation by Sector and Major Projects

1) General Public Administration Sector: 58.8 billion KRW allocated

▲ Office building operations: 2.8 billion KRW

▲ Operation of Gangbuk-gu Urban Management Corporation: 13.3 billion KRW

▲ Transfer to office building construction fund for public and official use: 15 billion KRW

2) Public Order and Safety Sector: 3.7 billion KRW allocated

▲ River facility maintenance: 900 million KRW

▲ Disaster preparedness and safety management: 400 million KRW

▲ Transfer to disaster management fund: 1 billion KRW

3) Education Sector: 9.6 billion KRW allocated

▲ Educational expense subsidy support: 3 billion KRW

▲ Eco-friendly school meal support: 4.2 billion KRW

▲ Promotion of Gangbuk Future Education District: 500 million KRW

4) Culture and Tourism Sector: 18.4 billion KRW allocated

▲ Autumn Night Concert: 300 million KRW

▲ Operation of Gangbuk Cultural Foundation: 3.5 billion KRW

▲ Operation of Gangbuk-gu Comprehensive Sports Center: 2.2 billion KRW

▲ Construction of Dobong Tax Office Multipurpose Sports Center: 300 million KRW

▲ Support for outsourced operation of district libraries: 1.4 billion KRW

5) Environment Sector: 47.7 billion KRW allocated

▲ Treatment of household and food waste and recyclables: 27.7 billion KRW

▲ Maintenance and environmental improvement of Solbat Neighborhood Park: 800 million KRW

▲ Creation of Gonggam Children's Playground: 700 million KRW

▲ Planting of roadside flowers: 900 million KRW

▲ Repair of sewage facilities: 2.7 billion KRW

▲ Maintenance work on aging sewage pipelines: 1.7 billion KRW

6) Social Welfare Sector: 547.2 billion KRW allocated

▲ Seoul Companion Job Project: 6.6 billion KRW

▲ Support for National Basic Livelihood Security including living and housing benefits: 136 billion KRW

▲ Infant and toddler childcare fee support: 20.6 billion KRW

▲ Basic pension project: 193.3 billion KRW

▲ Support for home care costs under Long-term Care Insurance for the elderly: 7.2 billion KRW

▲ Disability pension support for severely disabled persons: 9.7 billion KRW

▲ Construction of Beondong Youth Culture House: 7.7 billion KRW

7) Health Sector: 16.8 billion KRW allocated

▲ Operation of local dementia relief centers: 1.4 billion KRW

▲ Support for infertile couples: 700 million KRW

▲ National vaccination implementation project: 3.7 billion KRW

▲ Medical expense support for cancer patients: 700 million KRW

8) Agriculture, Forestry, and Marine Fisheries Sector: 500 million KRW allocated

▲ Protection and management of stray animals and neutering of stray cats: 200 million KRW

▲ Operation and management of dog parks: 100 million KRW

9) Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Energy Sector: 12.2 billion KRW allocated

▲ Construction of Songjung-dong complex facility: 800 million KRW

▲ Issuance and operation of Gangbuk Love Gift Certificates: 2.3 billion KRW

▲ Support for revitalization of traditional markets: 600 million KRW

▲ Construction of customer support center at Suyu Traditional Market: 1.7 billion KRW

▲ Establishment and operation of smart farm center: 2.6 billion KRW

10) Transportation and Logistics Sector: 16.2 billion KRW allocated

▲ Snow removal base relocation project: 4.7 billion KRW

▲ Creation of pedestrian-friendly streets around Gangbuk-gu Office: 600 million KRW

▲ Improvement project for aging streetlights on Suyu-ro: 300 million KRW