Sangju Reopens the Door to the Future

Sangju Launches Ambitious Growth Initiative with 1.3 Trillion Won Budget

From the economy, industry, education, to welfare, Sangju's strategy for next year goes beyond simple budget allocation and presents a blueprint for redesigning the city's future.

Mayor Youngseok Kang's speech reflected both the urgency of a local city striving to seize opportunities amid crisis and Sangju's determination to transform itself into a city of future growth.

Mayor Youngseok Kang of Sangju City is delivering the 236th regular session policy speech.

Sangju City has set the total main budget for 2026 at 1.302 trillion won and submitted it to the city council on the 27th. This marks an increase of 82 billion won from the previous year, setting a new record and continuing the era of a main budget exceeding 1 trillion won for the eighth consecutive year, thereby demonstrating the city's growth momentum.

In his policy speech at the 236th second regular session of the Sangju City Council, Mayor Youngseok Kang emphasized that this budget is a "growth engine to fundamentally transform the city, from overcoming the crisis of local extinction and building a foundation for future industries, to improving the residential environment and supporting the socially vulnerable."

◆ Turning the Local Extinction Crisis into an Opportunity... "A City Where Children Are Born, Raised, and Return"

Starting next year, Sangju will establish a comprehensive lifelong care ecosystem by expanding public postpartum care centers, integrated child care centers, and support for infant and child care.

Additionally, by promoting a special education development zone and creating a Sangju-style future education platform, the city will strengthen the system for nurturing and retaining local talent. Through the creation of a local vitality town linked to the Smart Farm Innovation Valley, as well as projects such as youth rental housing, Dream House, and vacant house renovation, Sangju aims to establish a youth-friendly city model encompassing youth life, housing, entrepreneurship, and community.

◆ Expanding Transportation, Safety, and Environmental Infrastructure... "Rebuilding the Basics of the City"

Major transportation infrastructure projects-including the Jungbu Inland High-Speed Railway, the National Route 3 bypass, and the Hwaseo-Muyang national road construction-will be accelerated through close cooperation with the central government.

Furthermore, the city will significantly strengthen its infrastructure for public safety and disaster response by establishing a public safety experience center, building a smart urban safety network, improving flood-prone areas, and implementing natural disaster improvement projects. Efforts to qualitatively transform the residential environment will also be pursued through restoration of urban ecological corridors, rural regeneration, and improvement projects for living conditions in vulnerable areas.

◆ Fostering New Growth Industries Based on Secondary Batteries, Drones, and AI... "Redrawing Sangju's Economic Map"

Sangju will accelerate the attraction of domestic and international high-tech companies by establishing a secondary battery cluster and leveraging incentives from designated special opportunity zones. With the construction of drone demonstration and test beds and preparations for designation as a special drone deregulation zone, Sangju is poised to become a hub city for drone research, development, and demonstration.

Tailored support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the issuance of Sangju local currency, support for small business management, and youth settlement platforms will serve as key pillars for establishing a cyclical growth structure in the local economy.

◆ Smart Agriculture Mega Cluster... "Sangju, the Capital of Future Agriculture"

By connecting the Smart Farm Innovation Valley, Sangju Agricultural Technology Center, and Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services, the city will drive an agricultural transformation based on AI and data.

Key initiatives include the construction of new smart greenhouses, dissemination of AI production models, pilot smart agriculture zones in open fields, fostering young farmers, and resolving rural labor shortages. The comprehensive agricultural logistics center will be developed into a core hub for national agricultural product distribution, while the foundation for circular agriculture will be strengthened through public livestock manure treatment facilities and odor reduction projects.

◆ Enhancing the Dignity of a City of Culture, Tourism, and History... "Creating a New Face for Sangju"

Sangju will establish a city landmark by constructing a cultural and arts center and will develop the Sambaek Theme Park, Gyeongsang Provincial Government Office Park, and sports park areas into a cultural and sports district.

The Sangju World Hat Festival will expand into a comprehensive industry platform encompassing education, experience, production, and exhibition. The restoration of the North Gate of Sangju Eupseong Fortress and the Byeongpungsan Ancient Tombs will strengthen the identity of historical and cultural assets. In addition, the city will collaborate with the Hanbok Promotion Institute to develop modern content, further solidifying the brand of "Sangju, the Hanbok Cultural City."

◆ A Warm Sangju Connecting "From the Cradle to the Grave"

Sangju is meticulously refining its comprehensive welfare system for all stages of life, including tailored child care, support for the independence of people with disabilities, a safety network for transportation-vulnerable citizens, expansion of senior complex centers and smart senior centers, and the renovation of the public memorial park. At the same time, the city will further enhance the value and recognition of veterans through the construction of an integrated veterans' center and the maintenance of the memorial tower.

◆ "Turning Imagination into Reality with Citizens"... Mayor Youngseok Kang's Pledge

Mayor Kang concluded by emphasizing, "I will devote all my passion to ensure that the seeds of hope become the bountiful fruits of the next generation. The future of Sangju is being decided now. If we are together with our citizens, a prosperous future for Sangju will surely be realized sooner."