Dobong-gu Allocates 862.4 Billion KRW Budget for 2025... Focus on Resident-Centered Projects

330 Billion KRW Increase Compared to 2024 Budget... Securing Funds through Strategic Financial Management, Focusing on Resident-Impact Projects
Expanding Welfare for the Vulnerable, Actively Investing in Enhancing Urban Competitiveness

Dobong-gu (District Mayor Oh Eon-seok) has prepared the '2025 Budget Proposal' this month and submitted it to the District Council.

The proposed budget is 862.4 billion KRW, which is approximately 33 billion KRW more than this year's main budget of 829.3 billion KRW. The growth rate is 3.98%, the lowest in the past 10 years. This reflects the impact of reduced tax revenues due to economic recession and uncertainties in the real estate market.

Despite difficult financial conditions, the district reviewed all projects from scratch to focus on projects that residents can directly feel.

Similar or overlapping projects and low-performance projects were boldly discontinued or reduced, and wasteful expenditure factors were adjusted through aggressive expenditure restructuring such as reducing recurring expenses, reallocating these funds to support projects for residents.

The resources secured through strategic and efficient financial management were prioritized and allocated mainly to key projects of the 8th elected administration, including ▲a vibrant co-prosperity economic city ▲a safe and healthy happy city ▲a conveniently accessible balanced development city ▲a high-quality education and cultural city ▲a transparent and innovative clean administration city, focusing on expanding welfare for the vulnerable without blind spots and strengthening urban competitiveness for future investment.

The status of major budgets by sector is as follows.

First, to create a vibrant co-prosperity economic city, 4.4 billion KRW was allocated to the Seoul Companion Job Project for low-income vulnerable groups, 1.5 billion KRW for issuing Dobong Love mobile gift certificates, 400 million KRW to support revitalization of traditional markets and shopping districts, 200 million KRW for entrepreneurship education and operation of the startup incubation center, and 400 million KRW for supporting small and medium enterprises, small business operators, and revitalizing the sock industry.

To help young people achieve their dreams of employment and entrepreneurship and settle in the region, 600 million KRW was allocated to support youth entrepreneurship activation, including providing startup preparation spaces for prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs; 600 million KRW for operating the Seoul Youth Center Dobong, which supports youth activities and community spaces; 450 million KRW for operating public institution, corporate, and overseas youth internships; and 160 million KRW for the Youth First Step Support Fund to encourage 19-year-old youths taking their first step into society.

Second, to create a safe and healthy happy city, 512.7 billion KRW, accounting for 59% of the total budget, was allocated. Despite difficult revenue conditions, essential welfare budgets to protect socially vulnerable groups were expanded.

1.873 trillion KRW was allocated for basic pension support, 1.045 trillion KRW for livelihood and housing benefits, 29.3 billion KRW for disability activity support, and 21.1 billion KRW for infant care fee support. Additionally, 1.5 billion KRW was allocated for Dobong-type senior job projects, a district-specialized elderly project; 1.5 billion KRW for providing free meals five days a week at senior centers; and 1.7 billion KRW for shingles vaccination support for seniors aged 65 and over.

Support for patriotic martyrs and merit recipients who devoted themselves to the country was also expanded. The veterans' honor allowance was increased from 50,000 KRW to 70,000 KRW per month, with 3.6 billion KRW allocated for support of national veterans and veterans' organizations, and 500 million KRW allocated to establish a veterans' hall fund to improve welfare for merit recipients and their families.

Third, in the field of a conveniently accessible balanced development city, 1.3 billion KRW was allocated for constructing public parking lots in residential areas to alleviate parking difficulties, and 1.4 billion KRW for road maintenance projects. For rapid and efficient reconstruction, redevelopment, and maintenance, 1.2 billion KRW was allocated for rapid integrated planning maintenance projects, Moa Town discovery promotion, and operation of rapid support teams; 500 million KRW for establishing district unit plans around the Changdong-Sanggye housing development district; 500 million KRW for landscape improvement projects of Banghakcheon and Uicheon streams; and 400 million KRW for improving bus stop usage environments.

Fourth, to create a high-quality education and cultural city, 9.5 billion KRW was allocated for operating the Dobong Cultural Foundation and Cultural Center, and 700 million KRW for newly operating a family camping site exclusively for Dobong residents. To enhance educational competitiveness, 8.9 billion KRW was allocated for educational expense subsidies such as eco-friendly school meals and school facility improvements, and 500 million KRW was allocated for establishing and operating eight neighborhood care centers for the Dobong-type care system.

To promote community sports, 2.2 billion KRW was allocated for expanding the base of community sports for residents, and 1.6 billion KRW for managing sports parks and sports facilities.

Fifth, to create a transparent and innovative clean administration city, 22.8 billion KRW was allocated for operating the Dobong District Facilities Management Corporation, 2.7 billion KRW for activating the operation of neighborhood leaders, and 1.5 billion KRW for operating residents' autonomy councils and revitalizing non-profit organizations.

A notable part of next year's budget proposal is the safety budget for crime response and preparation for various disasters and accidents. The district's goal is zero crime rate and creating a city safe from disasters and accidents.

The district allocated 1.9 billion KRW for upgrading intelligent CCTV and operating the CCTV integrated control center, 1 billion KRW for maintenance and management of aging urban park facilities including children's playgrounds, and 1.1 billion KRW for snow removal measures to maintain road functions in winter.

Additionally, 2.5 billion KRW was allocated for maintenance of sewage facilities to prepare for flooding, and 300 million KRW for building a smart rainwater management system to efficiently manage important flood control facilities such as rainwater inlets. A district official explained, "This is a proactive and preventive investment to address safety issues and the climate change crisis."

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, "Difficult financial conditions are expected next year as well as this year. The district has boldly reorganized unnecessary project expenses through selection and concentration and expenditure restructuring, prioritizing strengthening welfare for the vulnerable, stabilizing people's livelihoods, and enhancing urban competitiveness in the budget preparation." He added, "Through strategic financial management, we will continuously promote major pending projects to ensure the budget is properly used where needed, and boldly invest in projects that must be implemented for the future of Dobong and its residents."

The 2025 budget proposal submitted by the district is scheduled to be reviewed and approved by the Dobong District Council from November 18 and finalized on December 20.