The Seocho District Council (Chairperson Go Seon-jae) finalized the 2025 budget amounting to 891.2 billion KRW at the 4th plenary session on the 13th, concluding the 29-day schedule of the 337th 2nd regular session.
Starting with the 1st plenary session on November 15, this 29-day regular session included the 2024 administrative audit and district government inquiries, and reviewed the 2025 revenue and expenditure budget proposals as well as fund management plans.
Before the plenary vote on the budget proposal, the council conducted in-depth reviews through each standing committee and the Budget and Accounts Special Committee. As a result, the council increased the general account expenditure budget by 2.44 billion KRW for items such as subsidies for primary and secondary education expenses and activation of the Goteo and Sebit tourism special zones. Meanwhile, it reduced a total of 4.09 billion KRW for projects including the creation of the Seocho-type complex welfare town and public sports facilities in Sinbanpo 4 District. The deducted difference of 1.65 billion KRW was reflected in the general contingency fund.
The 2025 budget includes many projects focused on creating a safe and convenient urban environment and strengthening resident-centered welfare administration. Key safety projects include the establishment of an electric vehicle fire response system, runway-style crosswalks, and installation of heating wires. The welfare sector, which accounts for 43.7% of the total budget at 389.8 billion KRW, includes expansion of senior lounges and the Seocho Daycare Center, a dementia-specialized care facility, in preparation for a super-aged society.
Additionally, projects such as the ‘Visiting Infertility Prevention Academy’ will be promoted to respond to declining birth rates and increasing infertility rates.
Furthermore, the council adopted the 2024 administrative audit report. The audit identified a total of 230 issues including demands for correction and improvement, and recommendations.
Major issues pointed out included ▲budget formulation considering the execution rates of the past three years ▲establishing practical and efficient methods for distributing materials to reduce paper usage ▲improvements in revenue collection rates, expenditure execution rates, and carryover rates ▲multifaceted efforts and solutions to resolve issues with unsettled reconstruction associations ▲adjusting the start time of road-related maintenance projects that could be mistaken for budget waste ▲continuous management and supervision of illegal advertising medical institutions ▲thorough management and trustworthy selection of contractors for public sports facilities ▲the need for project planning following the designation of the Yangjae AI Future Convergence Innovation Special Zone ▲active discovery and support expansion for isolated and reclusive youth ▲and measures to strengthen competitiveness to reduce closures of district-run daycare centers.
At the 4th plenary session, council members Park Jae-hyung, Kang Yeo-jeong, and Ha Seo-young delivered 5-minute free speeches. First, Park Jae-hyung emphasized the necessity of ethical considerations accompanying the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and stressed the need for an ordinance to foster AI ethics.
Kang Yeo-jeong highlighted that before introducing AI-based services into administration, careful review and a phased approach are essential to thoroughly examine stability and suitability to avoid budget waste.
Ha Seo-young called for the establishment of effective policies to nurture AI talent and attract outstanding overseas talent to actively utilize Seocho District’s recently designated ‘AI Future Convergence Innovation Special Zone.’
Additionally, eight agenda items including ordinances were approved at the plenary session. The approved items are ▲Ordinance on the Protection of Rights of Emotional Labor Workers in Seocho District, Seoul ▲Complete revision of the Ordinance on the Creation and Operation of Smart Cities in Seocho District, Seoul ▲Ordinance on Cybersecurity Management of Investment and Contribution Institutions in Seocho District, Seoul ▲Consent for Appointment of Non-standing Ombudsman in Seocho District, Seoul ▲2025 Regular Share Property Management Plan of Seocho District, Seoul ▲2025 Regular Share Property Management Plan (Amendment) of Seocho District, Seoul ▲Report and Opinion Hearing on Long-term Unexecuted Urban Planning Facilities ▲2024 1st Ad Hoc Share Property Management Plan of Seocho District, Seoul.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
