Gangjin-gun Achieves Success Securing 2.8 Billion Won in Special Grants

Securing a Total of 6 Billion KRW Beyond Financial and Demographic Conditions

Following 11.2 Billion KRW with A Grade in Government Local Extinction Response Fund Evaluation

Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do, demonstrated its true value by securing an additional 2.8 billion KRW in special grants, which are purely national funds.

According to the county on the 7th, Gangjin-gun recently secured an additional 2.8 billion KRW in the 2nd round of special grants from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, bringing the total amount secured in 2023 to 6 billion KRW.

In particular, despite the impact of decreased local allocation tax due to sluggish national tax revenue, the absence of a 3rd round of special grants, and the lack of policy projects directly granted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the county achieved remarkable results.

(On the left) Gang Jin-won, the county governor, is visiting the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to request special grant support. [Photo by Gangjin County]

Neighboring counties A-gun and B-gun, which have larger financial scales or populations than Gangjin-gun, each secured only 2 billion KRW, and C-si, a city-level district, secured just 2.2 billion KRW. Given that special grants typically vary by only 100 to 200 million KRW, Gangjin-gun’s secured amount stands out as a significant achievement.

To secure this special grant, the county prepared a meticulous response strategy from identifying local pending projects to securing funding. County Governor Kang Jin-won personally visited the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, holding meetings with Lee Han-kyung, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, and Han Soon-gi, Director of the Local Finance Bureau, and worked closely with central government agencies and members of the National Assembly to make every effort to secure the special grants.

It is analyzed that Gangjin-gun set a plan to secure any government department budget available and made efforts ahead of other local governments.

Since the beginning of this year, after fierce competition with 20 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do, Gangjin-gun was finally selected for the Jeonnam Balanced Development 300 Project, securing a total of 33 billion KRW, including 20 billion KRW in provincial funds. It also received the highest A grade in the government’s local extinction response fund evaluation within Jeollanam-do, securing 11.2 billion KRW.

Additionally, through private investment, Gangjin-gun signed a business revitalization agreement with Baek Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea Co., Ltd., to promote groundbreaking development in Gangjin-eup’s commercial district.

The 2.8 billion KRW in special grants secured in this second round will fund four projects: 800 million KRW for the repair and reinforcement of the aging Bongnim 1 Bridge in Omcheon-myeon, 800 million KRW for the repair and reinforcement of the Toma Reservoir in Jakcheon-myeon, 400 million KRW for the expansion and paving of the entrance road to Pungdong Village, and 800 million KRW for the construction of a marine rescue vessel.

Bongnim 1 Bridge (built in 1993) and Toma Reservoir (built in 1969) have been facing issues such as decreased durability and structural cracks, making urgent repairs necessary to prevent damage to the lives and property of residents.

Governor Kang Jin-won said, “This is the result of our fierce efforts to improve the safety and quality of life of our residents,” adding, “Next year, we will do our best to secure even more special grants to reinforce various disaster facilities and promote county pending projects.”

Gangjin = Kim Yong-su, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy just8440@asiae.co.kr