Mayor Kim Kyung-il: "We Will Promote Active Fiscal Policy to Protect Paju's Economy and Citizens' Lives"

Speech on City Administration at Paju City Council Regular Meeting
Announced Three Major Administrative Goals Including Entry into a 1 Million Self-Sufficient City
Active Fiscal Promotion through the '2 Trillion Won Era' Main Budget
2025 Budget Proposal 2.1527 Trillion Won... 145.7 Billion Won Increase from Previous Year

"The more difficult it is for citizens, the more the public sector must take the lead and create spaces where citizens can breathe."

On the 20th, Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, announced the direction of city administration for the next year through the 2025 city administration speech at the 2nd regular meeting of the 251st Paju City Council.

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, is delivering the 2025 administrative speech at the 2nd regular session of the 251st Paju City Council on the 20th. Provided by Paju City

Mayor Kim Kyung-il said, "The year 2024 was a year focused solely on the livelihood of the people, concentrating on various policies to protect the livelihoods facing crises," citing major achievements such as ‘Issuing the largest amount of local currency nationwide,’ ‘The 1st Corporate Expo,’ ‘2024 Gyeonggi-do Sports Festival,’ ‘Introduction of Paprika, a student-only school shuttle bus,’ ‘Establishment of the 2·5·7 civil service system,’ and ‘Visiting mobile mayor’s office.’

He also stated that in 2025, to alleviate the difficulties of people's livelihoods, the city will promote ‘active fiscal policy’ by streamlining finances through bold choices and concentration, and if necessary, issuing local bonds to protect Paju’s economy and citizens’ lives.

In particular, he announced plans to vigorously pursue the three major city administration goals for 2025: ‘Rapid entry into a self-sufficient city of one million,’ ‘Building a leading basic society city in Korea,’ and ‘Constructing a metropolitan cultural and ecological leisure hub,’ so that the 520,000 citizens can vividly experience a ‘citizen-centered greater Paju.’

First, to rapidly enter a self-sufficient city of one million, he proposed innovations in transportation infrastructure through the full opening of the GTX era and the transition to public management of city buses, focusing on the Peace Economy Special Zone, designation of economic free zones, attracting various enterprises, rapid promotion of the Paju Medical Cluster, globalization of the Corporate Expo, establishment of the Paju Economic Win-Win Platform, promotion of the establishment of Paju Public Bank, local food complex center, and public RE100 policy.

Second, to build a ‘leading basic society city’ where all citizens enjoy happiness without discrimination, he announced maintaining the issuance and incentives of local currency at the highest level and greatly expanding its usage, establishing a public transportation system through free and expanded Paprika service, introducing Paju-style public housing and public energy policies, and promoting the establishment of Paju-style public nursing facilities.

Third, utilizing Paju’s numerous cultural and ecological resources to build a ‘metropolitan cultural and ecological leisure hub,’ he proposed promoting the establishment of the National Yulgok Spirit Culture Promotion Institute, restoring Yulgok’s birthplace and Hwaseokjeong Pavilion, creating the Imjingang regional garden aiming to become a national garden, developing the Gongneungcheon area regional ecological garden, and revitalizing tourism through DMZ tourism and the Family Art Peace Village.

In addition, he stated that key projects of Paju City such as closing the red-light district, advancing the 2·5·7 civil service system, expanding the honorary mayor and mobile mayor’s office, and constructing various government buildings will be carried out without delay.

Mayor Kim Kyung-il urged, "Let us unite our efforts for a citizen-centered city Paju, a self-sufficient city of one million that attracts nationwide attention, and a greater Paju," expressing his determination that "all public officials will respond with closer and faster administration."

Meanwhile, Paju City submitted the next year’s budget proposal at 2.1527 trillion won, an increase of 145.7 billion won compared to this year, preparing the largest-ever main budget following this year’s first ‘2 trillion won era’ main budget, and plans to steadily carry out city administration to restore the local economy and people’s livelihoods.