"Quick Steps to Secure National Funds"... Kim Dong-yeon Meets Budget Committee Chair to Request 297.2 Billion KRW Increase

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, amid the National Assembly's full-scale review of next year's government budget, visited Park Jeong, Chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, to request correction of the government's fiscal policy that is going in the wrong direction and to seek active support for Gyeonggi Province's key projects.

On the 20th, Governor Kim met with Chairman Park at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and asked for cooperation on two points.

First, Governor Kim said, "The government is currently pursuing austerity under the guise of sound fiscal management, which is going against the efforts to overcome the difficult economy. I believe you share the view that the government's current understanding and fiscal policy are flawed, and I ask for your efforts to properly correct this through the Budget Committee."

He added, "Quantitatively, we need expansionary fiscal policy, and qualitatively, the budget should help vulnerable groups and the livelihood of the people, as well as support industries to build competitiveness and future growth. I hope the Budget Committee will demonstrate good intentions in these areas."

He continued, "I request securing national funding for about 15 Gyeonggi Province projects," and added, "I hope you will assist with issues such as local currency, Sewol ferry-related matters, budgets for struggling small business owners, self-employed people, ordinary citizens, and transportation problems."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) is meeting with Park Jung, Chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, on the 20th to request cooperation for Gyeonggi Province's national funding support projects. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

In response, Chairman Park said, "While the government plans to implement austerity budgets in 2024 and neglect its role, Gyeonggi Province has pursued expansionary fiscal policies to promote small business owners, self-employed people, and renewable energy projects," adding, "You have also allocated budgets for social enterprises and village enterprises differently from the government. Your clear stance on local currency aligns with the Democratic Party's policies."

He especially noted, "Gyeonggi Province is doing well in sustainable innovative inclusive governance, addressing climate crisis issues, low birth rates, aging population, social safety, new industrial growth engines, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution," and said, "Our party will also secure sufficient budgets in these areas and work closely with Gyeonggi Province to achieve new growth and protect vulnerable people. Gyeonggi Province lawmakers will unite beyond party lines to ensure thorough support."

The major national projects proposed by Governor Kim on this day total 15, with an increase of 297.2 billion KRW over the government budget proposal of 418.3 billion KRW.

First, to expand transportation infrastructure in the northern Gyeonggi region and promote regional balanced development, an increase of 48 billion KRW was requested for the Dobongsan-Ogjeong metropolitan railway, 31.9 billion KRW for the Ogjeong-Pocheon metropolitan railway, and 70.8 billion KRW for the metropolitan area express railway (GTX) Line C (Deokjeong-Suwon) to alleviate transportation congestion in the metropolitan area.

Additionally, a 7.5 billion KRW increase was proposed to support public transportation fare refunds to reduce the transportation cost burden on residents.

In the safety sector, 13.4 billion KRW was requested to support the Sewol ferry salvage and memorial project for completion in the first half of 2026, and 60.2 billion KRW was requested for disaster-prone area maintenance.

Furthermore, requests were made for national budget increases in areas including strengthening the public nature of regional base hospitals, supporting the National Sports Festival, balanced development of the regional content industry, establishing an open innovation digital open lab, supporting residents in the Han River basin, supporting border area development, operating youth welfare facilities, establishing and operating social service centers, operating specialized fishing village support centers, national heritage restoration and maintenance, and promoting reusable container reuse projects.

Earlier, in June, Governor Kim met with Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Choi Sang-mok at the Government Complex Seoul to request national funding for three major projects, including the early completion of the Dobongsan-Ogjeong metropolitan railway. Subsequently, on July 4, Kim Seong-jung, Gyeonggi Province Administrative Deputy Governor 1, and senior officials held a briefing session for the aides of Gyeonggi-area National Assembly members at the National Assembly to explain key national projects. On July 12, Deputy Governors Kim Seong-jung and Oh Hu-seok met with Budget Committee members representing Gyeonggi constituencies to request national funding, demonstrating a full-scale effort to secure national budgets.