Goyang City Increases Main Budget by 2.41% Over Previous Year
Balanced Allocation Across Industry, Welfare, Environment, Safety, and Transportation
Focus on Livelihood Recovery and Strategic Industry Advancement
Budget Cuts for AI, Smart Ci
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) announced on December 17 that it has finalized its 2026 main budget at a total of 3.421 trillion won, following approval by the city council's plenary session on December 16. This represents an increase of 80.5 billion won (2.41%) compared to the 2025 main budget, with 2.8738 trillion won allocated to the general account and 547.2 billion won to special accounts. During the city council's review process, 16.9 billion won was cut from the budget.
The city stated that it prepared this budget with a focus on balanced fiscal management, prioritizing sound financial practices, the stability of citizens’ lives, and the city’s future development.
First, the city strengthened welfare across all life stages and support for socially vulnerable groups. It expanded care and self-reliance infrastructure through allocations such as 455.1 billion won for basic pensions, 12.9 billion won for the First Meeting Voucher program, 3.4 billion won for women's employment, and 5 billion won for the construction of an integrated welfare center for people with disabilities. In addition, 4.6 billion won was allocated to support infertility treatment for couples, and 1.3 billion won for emergency medical centers, further reinforcing the city's public health system.
The city also focused on creating a child-friendly environment. To improve the educational environment, it allocated 22 billion won for free school meals, 2 billion won for the Education Advancement Special Zone project, and 2.5 billion won for school facility improvements.
Efforts were made to revitalize the local economy and upgrade the industrial structure. The city allocated 45 billion won as its share for the construction of KINTEX Exhibition Hall 3, 1.8 billion won for special guarantee contributions for small businesses, and 1 billion won for contributions to the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These measures aim to expand the city’s role as a hub for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry and improve financial accessibility for small businesses and SMEs.
In the environmental sector, the city is working to build a sustainable urban system focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting resource circulation. The budget includes 27.3 billion won for electric vehicle purchase subsidies, 63 billion won for household waste collection and transportation outsourcing, 800 million won for the Mini Hydrogen City project, and 300 million won for RFID-based volume-rate waste disposal systems.
In the transportation sector, investments will continue to improve mobility. The city allocated 5.9 billion won for the construction of a parking-only building within the Goyang Tourism and Culture Complex, 3.2 billion won for the Laon-gil project, and 1.5 billion won as its share for the Daejang-Hongdae metropolitan railway project, thereby enhancing urban accessibility and integration with the greater Seoul metropolitan transportation network.
The city is also actively working to ensure citizen safety. It maintained a disaster prevention-focused management system by allocating 4.3 billion won for improvement projects in disaster-prone areas such as Gangmae, Daehwa, and Jangwol, 2.2 billion won for the comprehensive improvement of the Gwansan flood-prone area, and 7.9 billion won for the operation of the Goyang Smart City Center.
In the culture and sports sector, the city plans to expand leisure infrastructure for citizens and enhance its urban image. The budget includes 1 billion won for the Bukhansanseong World Heritage project, 9.9 billion won for the renovation of the artificial climbing wall, Goyang Gymnasium, and Seongsa Public Tennis Court in preparation for the 2027 National Sports Festival, and 10.5 billion won for the construction of sports centers in Wonheung, Baekseok, and Tanhyeon. These investments aim to strengthen the foundation for everyday cultural and sports activities and enhance the city’s brand value.
The city also allocated funds for urban environmental conservation and balanced development of rural areas. This includes 2.7 billion won for the purchase of land for long-term unexecuted urban parks, 3.3 billion won for the basic public direct payment program, and 1.2 billion won for the supply of healthy fruit to children in Gyeonggi Province.
Meanwhile, major projects that were reduced during the city council’s review process include: 4 billion won for the relocation of departments to the Baekseok Annex, 3 billion won for the hub-type smart city project, 590 million won for the district unit plan study for the old downtown areas (Wondang, Neunggok, Goyang), 700 million won for the basic plan for integrated underground railway development, 270 million won for the basic plan and feasibility study for a public arboretum, 100 million won for the feasibility analysis for establishing a public museum, 380 million won for the World Cities Forum, 80 million won for generative AI usage fees, 30 million won for policy workshops, 20 million won for the Youth Networking Cheongchun Toktok program, and 50 million won for the vacant house maintenance plan study.
An official from Goyang Special City stated, "We prepared this budget to provide stability for citizens’ livelihoods and revitalize the local economy despite challenging fiscal conditions," adding, "We regret that key project budgets for future growth and urban development have been repeatedly cut."
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