Next Year’s Budget Up 21.88%
Governor Outlines County Administration Direction in Policy Speech
"Past Three Years Marked by Success as a Leading Model Responding to Local Extinction"
Kim Hasu, the governor of Cheongdo County, declared 2026-the final year of the 8th popularly elected administration-as the "Year of Leap and Completion" in his policy speech at the 2nd regular session of the 314th Cheongdo County Council held on December 4. He outlined the direction for county administration, stating, "We will create a Cheongdo where children's laughter continues, youth challenges blossom, and the daily lives of seniors become safer."
The 2026 budget proposal submitted by Cheongdo County amounts to a record-high total of 756.9 billion won, a 21.88% increase from this year.
Kim Hasu, the governor of Cheongdo County, is delivering the policy speech at the 2nd regular session of the 314th Cheongdo County Council held on the 4th. Provided by Cheongdo County
This consists of 682.8 billion won in the general account and 74.1 billion won in the special account. The budget will be primarily allocated to stabilizing livelihoods, expanding welfare, transforming agriculture, strengthening settlement infrastructure, and enhancing cultural tourism infrastructure.
Cheongdo County stated that, based on an analysis of its administrative achievements over the past three years, it has established itself as a "leading model for responding to local extinction."
In particular, by strategically focusing on national and provincial competitive projects, the county secured a record 39 projects worth 217.4 billion won this year, minimizing the county's financial burden to about 10%.
Building on this, the county surpassed the 700 billion won mark in the main budget for the first time, significantly expanding its fiscal scale.
Additionally, Cheongdo County's administrative capabilities have been nationally recognized, winning the Korea Environment Grand Prize for six consecutive years, the Korea New Leader Award in the local government administration category, and being named an excellent institution for innovation and proactive administration by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, among other honors.
In the agricultural sector, Cheongdo County achieved the highest export volume among counties (84.3 billion won) and was selected as the top institution in the 2025 agricultural policy evaluation, marking clear successes.
In terms of major infrastructure, the Cheongdo Natural Dream Park-a project worth a total of 400 billion won (with over 250 billion won in private investment)-was designated as Cheongdo County's first general industrial complex and is set to begin construction in 2026, emerging as a key regional economic hub.
Furthermore, the county established "Cheongdo Sangsangmaru," a transportation and community complex hub, and the summer attraction "Bitnarae Sangsangmadang Water Playground," which drew 12,000 visitors.
At the Gakbuk-myeon Innovation Agriculture Town, joint farming and double cropping led to more than a threefold increase in farm income, highlighting remarkable achievements in agricultural innovation.
In addition, projects such as the "Manwon Housing" initiative, the operation of a 24-hour free childcare center, and a support system providing up to 257 million won per person throughout the life cycle have positioned Cheongdo as a "city for giving birth, raising children, and settling down."
For next year's county administration, six key pillars were presented: ▲ a dignified welfare city; ▲ a balanced settlement city where people stay and grow; ▲ the establishment of safe and innovative smart infrastructure; ▲ a hopeful rural area through agricultural transformation; ▲ a leading city for cultural tourism where healing and enjoyment coexist; and ▲ a hopeful education city where learning leads to jobs and settlement.
In the culture and welfare sectors, Cheongdo County plans to expand high-quality forest healing centers and develop a stay-type tourism base linked to the Seonggok Dam Ecotourism Belt. The county will also promote the construction of a community culture complex, creative spaces for artists, and an exhibition hall focused on world-renowned artists from Cheongdo, thereby enhancing cultural experiences both day and night.
Additionally, the county will establish a comprehensive lifelong care and integrated health service system by expanding "Together Care Centers," shared parenting facilities, 24-hour care support, increasing senior jobs by 2,230 positions, operating "Happiness Teachers" at senior centers, and relocating and constructing a new public health center.
In the settlement and safety sector, the county will create urban settlement spaces that combine housing, jobs, and culture through the Cheongdo Urban Regeneration New Deal and the Regional Vitality Town project. It also plans to support stable settlement for returnees and young people by supplying "Happy Housing" and implementing vacant house regeneration projects.
Moreover, the county aims to boost corporate investment and invigorate the local economy by establishing the Lycon Fund and improving the environment of agro-industrial complexes.
In addition, Cheongdo County will strengthen its digital safety net by building and upgrading an intelligent integrated control system and an early disaster warning system. For the first time in county history, a BTL (Build-Transfer-Lease) public-private investment project for public sewage pipelines (with a total investment of 260 billion won) will be implemented, ensuring stable national funding and significantly increasing the sewerage supply rate.
Furthermore, the county plans to promote wide-area transportation SOC projects such as the extension of the urban metropolitan railway, the construction of the road between Maejun and Ulju, and the opening of the Gakbuk Tunnel, aiming to establish itself as a central hub for the Yeongnam region.
In agriculture, the county will expand the Innovation Agriculture Town model to all towns and townships, increase smart farm projects to boost income and strengthen climate crisis response capabilities, and create a virtuous cycle in rural areas by linking the Cheongdo Persimmon Non-Commercial Resource Center and Miristay for production, processing, and settlement.
In education and youth, the county will expand the Lifelong Learning Happiness Center, establish the Onnuri Graduate School, and foster on-site talent through the Daegu Haany University and Glocal University 30 projects. By creating the "054 Space" youth cultural complex and expanding youth jobs, the county aims to realize "Cheongdo, a city where young people work and stay."
Kim Hasu, the governor of Cheongdo County, expressed his ambition for 2026, stating, "By expanding investment for the livelihood and future of residents and executing the budget in ways that people can truly feel, we will work together with residents to complete Cheongdo as a city where people stay and hope grows."
He also emphasized, "All public officials will vigorously open a new future for Cheongdo with the spirit of 'Haengwonposin'-going far while always embracing newness."
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