On November 21, Hong Taeyong, mayor of Gimhae City in Gyeongnam Province, announced the direction of next year's city administration and the budget proposal through his municipal administration speech at the 275th Regular Meeting, 2nd Session of the Gimhae City Council.
At this event, Mayor Hong first emphasized the joint achievements accomplished together with the city council so far.
He cited as key accomplishments the successful hosting of three major mega-events last year-the National Sports Festival, the National Para Games, and the 2024 East Asia City of Culture-as well as the Year of Visiting Gimhae, the restructuring of the industrial sector, the inscription of the Daeseong-dong Tumuli on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the attraction of the 2027 General Assembly of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO), and the selection as a Glocal University.
For next year, he highlighted "dreams and happiness" as the core message.
Hong Taeyong, mayor of Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, is delivering the municipal administration speech at the city council, which includes next year's city management plan and budget proposal. Provided by Gimhae City
Mayor Hong stated, "Dreams and happiness are universal values that every administration should pursue, regardless of era or circumstance, and they are the unchanging answer to why municipal administration must exist." He emphasized, "The era when the collective defines the dreams and happiness of individuals is over. What is most personal is now most urban, and the city's great direction lies where each person's tastes and unique qualities come together."
He summarized the direction of city administration into six key areas: normalization of civic sovereignty in daily life, virtuous cycle between industry and livelihoods, expansion of the practical value of environmental protection, expansion and connection of urban spaces, safety for all and inclusive welfare, and strengthening of soft power competitiveness.
Next year, Gimhae City will focus on normalizing civic sovereignty in daily life by transforming the interactive online communication platform "Citizen Policy Proposals" into a practical channel for implementing policies and increasing the acceptance of citizen suggestions.
The city will diversify communication channels, from operating an online platform for participatory budgeting to expanding consulting for public contests, and will also fully launch a comprehensive information platform for population policy, allowing citizens to easily access Gimhae’s population policies.
To achieve a balanced economy where industry and livelihoods form a virtuous cycle, the city will focus on strengthening industrial capabilities and technological competitiveness, centering on the development of future automobiles, logistics, robotics, semiconductors, medical and bio devices, and the establishment of a liquefied hydrogen cluster.
Efforts will also be concentrated on pioneering export markets, fostering competitive local companies, supporting startups for rapid market entry, and helping them grow into anchor companies.
In addition, the city will strengthen the self-sufficiency of small business owners and expand exports of processed agricultural products in line with the popularity of K-Food.
To expand the value of carbon-free green transition to the energy sector, the city will advance "plastic-free in daily life" policies and begin construction of a public pyrolysis facility to convert residual waste plastics into high-value resources.
The city will also work on expanding the supply of renewable energy centered on solar and thermal power, completing the modernization of resource recycling facilities and the household resource recovery center, registering Hwapocheon as a Ramsar wetland, officially opening the National Gimhae Forest Experience Center, and upgrading the Jomangang River to a national river.
Furthermore, administrative efforts will be devoted to advancing the Northeast Asia small smart city project linked to the development of the Arctic shipping route, attracting a basic logistics platform for artificial intelligence, establishing a new spatial order connecting light rail station areas, and laying the foundation for an AI City.
The city also plans to complete the construction of the Chojeong-Hwamyung metropolitan road, the Gimhae-Miryang expressway, the new Gimhae Station for the Southeast Region Circular Metropolitan Railway, and secure national funding for the Busan-Gimhae light rail.
In the welfare sector, the city will focus on the value and achievements of being recertified as an International Safe City this year, establish a proactive support system for at-risk households using AI, formulate a Gimhae-specific community welfare plan, and construct the Gimhae Public Medical Center and the Western Public Health Center’s Child Health Dream Center.
To foster culture, tourism, and content, the city will promote the second season of the Cultural City project, establish the Gyeongnam Global Convergence Content Industry Town, open the Gimhae Municipal Kim Youngwon Art Museum, and introduce incentives for cruise tourists.
The city also plans to preserve and maintain the Gaya Tumuli and other Gaya heritage sites, join the League of Historical Cities, establish a roadmap for new World Heritage inscriptions, and create the Gimhae Talent Development Foundation.
At the 275th Gimhae City Council 2nd Regular Session, Mayor Hong Taeyong is delivering the municipal administration speech. Provided by Gimhae City
Gimhae City's budget proposal for next year is 2.4831 trillion won, an increase of 194.5 billion won compared to this year.
Of this, the general account is 2.0751 trillion won, and the special account is 408 billion won.
Major expenditure allocations include 884.7 billion won for social welfare, 135 billion won for culture and tourism, 76.8 billion won for industry, 170 billion won for environment, and 182 billion won for transportation and logistics, each accounting for 41% of the total general account.
Mayor Hong reiterated, "The ultimate goal of everything we have done so far, and everything we will continue to do, is the realization of these unchanging universal values," adding, "This is, in essence, the realization of the dreams and happiness of our citizens."
He continued, "We will create a city that gives everyone at least the minimum assurance and hope that they can dream and be happy-a warm, happy city where dreams come true, Gimhae."
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