Budget for 2025 Focused on 'Minsheng Economy' and 'Basic Living'
Increase of 29.9 Billion KRW (4.08%) from This Year, General Account 743.1 Billion KRW, Special Account 21.8 Billion KRW
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) has drafted the 2025 budget and submitted it to the district council. The budget size increased by 29.9 billion KRW (4.08%) compared to this year, totaling 764.9 billion KRW, consisting of 743.1 billion KRW in the general account and 21.8 billion KRW in the special account.
Due to changes in the population structure with low birth rates and aging, the social welfare sector increased by 22.2 billion KRW from this year to 413.2 billion KRW, accounting for the largest share at 54% of the total budget.
The district formulated the 2025 budget focusing on ‘livelihood economy’ and ‘basic living.’ The budget plan concentrates on ▲ revitalizing the local economy ▲ resident-centered projects such as support for the vulnerable ▲ prevention of safety accidents and climate crisis ▲ strengthening urban, park, and transportation infrastructure.
Revitalizing the Local Economy and Strengthening Competitiveness of Small Businesses
The budget was allocated focusing on the recovery of the livelihood economy to revitalize Geumcheon’s economy, which is supported by G-Valley, traditional markets, and neighborhood commercial districts.
Support for revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts was allocated 325 million KRW, issuance of Geumcheon G-Valley Love Gift Certificates 967 million KRW, and issuance of Geumcheon Public Delivery App Gift Certificates 143 million KRW to support local commercial areas.
Additionally, support for small business owners includes 100 million KRW for the Yellow Umbrella Hope Incentive Fund, 320 million KRW for special interest-free loans, 21 million KRW for disinfection and quarantine support for Good Price Businesses, and 31 million KRW for comprehensive air conditioner cleaning support for small business owners.
Plans are in place to expand customized jobs by generation linked with local resources. Budgets were allocated for employment-vulnerable groups, including 4.4 billion KRW for the Companion Job Project, 144 million KRW for resident employment subsidies, and 589 million KRW for the Youth Challenge Support Project for young people who have given up job searching.
Minimizing Care Gaps and Strengthening Support for Socially Vulnerable Groups
In response to the increase in welfare recipients and diverse welfare demands due to low birth rates, ultra-aging, and the social entry of single-person households, the district plans to guarantee residents’ basic living.
The budget includes 118.3 billion KRW for basic pensions, 63.5 billion KRW for livelihood benefits, 31.2 billion KRW for housing benefits, 20.6 billion KRW for disability activity support, 10.6 billion KRW for parental benefits, 7.7 billion KRW for child allowances, 20 million KRW for paid broadcasting fee support for low-income residents, 178 million KRW for Geumcheon Child Growth Support Fund, 500 million KRW for senior leisure complex facilities, and 235 million KRW for the construction of the Deoksan 1-dong branch daycare center, all reflecting the increasing welfare demand. Additionally, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, 27 million KRW was allocated for the Liberation Day commemorative event, and the veterans’ honor allowance was raised from 50,000 KRW to 70,000 KRW per month.
Other resident-centered projects include 240 million KRW for high school field trip expenses, 21 million KRW for military service youth accident insurance support, and 32 million KRW for environmental improvement support for general restaurants and public hygiene businesses.
Investing in Safety Accident Prevention to Protect Residents’ Health and Safety
To ensure residents’ ordinary happiness by prioritizing safety, projects are being promoted to protect the community from disasters caused by climate change and various crimes.
Budgets include 180 million KRW for elementary school children’s commuting safety support, 47 million KRW for operating ice water-sharing refrigerators, 25 million KRW for drones used for park and forest safety monitoring, 116 million KRW for safety equipment support for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in multi-family housing, 200 million KRW for reducing traffic accidents involving the elderly, and 2 billion KRW for maintenance of aging sewage facilities such as sewer pipe improvements, all aimed at creating a safer Geumcheon-gu.
Investing in Strengthening Regional Infrastructure such as Urban Areas, Parks, and Transportation
Budgets were allocated for the integration and expansion of public parking lots in residential areas of Siheung 1-dong with 2.1 billion KRW, undergrounding projects on Munseong-ro 900 million KRW, Geumha-ro 2 billion KRW, and Siheung-daero 1.5 billion KRW, maintenance of park restrooms at Hoapsa with 1.244 billion KRW, creation of a resident rest area around the Sunheung An clan cemetery with 1.276 billion KRW, redevelopment of aging children’s parks with 1 billion KRW, and landscape improvement around Hoamsan barrier-free forest trail with 400 million KRW.
In particular, next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Geumcheon-gu, and the budget includes commemorative projects such as operating a resident public forum to discover common agendas for solving local issues and producing the 30-year history of Geumcheon to reflect on the past and prepare for the future.
The budget proposal submitted by the district will be finalized on December 20 after review and approval by the Geumcheon District Council.
Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, emphasized, “Although a challenging financial situation is expected again next year following this year, we boldly invested in resident-centered projects to stabilize livelihoods and strengthen welfare for the vulnerable,” adding, “We will make meticulous efforts to ensure the budget is properly used where and when it is needed.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.


