Among Seoul City Council, Gwanak-gu Council is the only one yet to form its leadership... Gwanak-gu faces difficulties as it cannot review the supplementary budget proposal
The Gwanak District Council in Seoul is showing signs of a delayed council as it fails to elect the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and standing committee chairs to lead the second half of the council.
The Gwanak District Council is evenly split with 11 members from the People Power Party and 11 members from the Democratic Party of Korea, resulting in a deadlock that prevents the formation of the council leadership for the second half of the year.
As a result, Gwanak District (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has prepared a 63.8 billion KRW first supplementary budget for 2024 but is unable to have it reviewed and approved by the council, expressing a regrettable situation.
The district originally announced that the supplementary budget would be reviewed and approved by the council starting September 23 and finalized on October 7.
However, as of the 23rd, no negotiations between the two parties regarding the council leadership formation have taken place.
The district submitted the supplementary budget focusing on ▲revitalizing the local economy ▲ensuring residents’ safety ▲customized welfare ▲and creating leisure and cultural spaces.
In particular, due to prolonged high inflation and high interest rates causing a contraction in the domestic market and difficulties for the working-class economy, the budget prioritizes projects that residents can feel directly and are essential for district administration, such as ▲the Together Job Project and strengthening small business competitiveness (2.8 billion KRW), ▲residents’ safety (10.3 billion KRW), and ▲enhancing customized welfare without blind spots (8.2 billion KRW).
The supplementary budget resources were secured through ▲net surplus from last fiscal year’s settlement, ▲national and city subsidies, ▲financial incentives, and ▲adjustments of expenditure budgets expected to remain unspent.
First, the district allocated 2.8 billion KRW to invigorate the local economy, which has been stagnating due to the prolonged economic downturn. It plans to create about 670 public jobs in the second half of the year to provide stable employment for residents. Additionally, to support small business owners facing management difficulties, the district will launch the Gwanak-style Artterior project and establish a small and medium enterprise development fund to provide management stabilization funds.
Efforts to create a safe living environment for residents will continue in the second half of the year. The district allocated 10.3 billion KRW for ▲replacing low-resolution CCTV, ▲establishing a district unit plan around Sindebang Station, ▲expanding and repairing rainwater management facilities, ▲repairing roads and sewage facilities, and ▲maintaining hazardous trees in children’s parks, focusing all efforts on making Gwanak a safe place for residents.
Furthermore, to support customized welfare without blind spots, the district allocated 8.2 billion KRW to support ▲parental allowances, ▲growth and childcare support funds, and ▲the construction and repair of daycare centers and youth facilities.
Budgets were also actively allocated to improve residents’ cultural welfare environment, including ▲relocation of the Sillim-dong three-room facility, ▲supplementing lifelong learning center facilities, and ▲environmental improvements at Gwanak Central Library.
In July this year, the district established the ‘Park Leisure Bureau’ to contribute to residents’ healthy leisure activities and health promotion.
Accordingly, to provide content that blends nature and culture for residents tired of daily life, a ‘Healing Garden’ will be installed in Nakseongdae Park, and ecological landscape improvement projects will continue with the creation of rose and other vegetation planters in the restored Byeolbitnaerin Stream section.
Additionally, in response to the recent trend of activating forest and leisure culture, the district plans to establish a unique leisure activation policy exclusive to Gwanak District. Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I hope this will help stabilize residents’ lives, who are struggling with the difficult livelihood economy and the record-breaking heatwave this summer,” and added, “Once the budget is finalized, we will promptly implement projects to increase residents’ happiness index.”
Meanwhile, People Power Party members are expected to hold a full meeting on the 24th to organize their stance regarding the council leadership formation, drawing attention.
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