Gyeonggi Province has secured 78.5 billion won in resident support project funds for the Paldang Water Source Management Area for next year. This is an increase of 7.3 billion won (10.3%) compared to this year.
The resident support project funds are budget allocations provided directly and indirectly to support the income growth and welfare improvement of upstream area residents whose property rights and livelihoods are restricted by various overlapping regulations.
To increase the project budget, Gyeonggi Province has continuously coordinated with the Ministry of Environment and other metropolitan governments belonging to the Han River Basin Management Committee, emphasizing the need for appropriate compensation for areas most affected by regulations. In particular, the province actively participated from the initial stage of establishing the 2026 fund operation plan, proposing a substantial increase in project funds that reflects recent inflation and the demands of local residents.
The secured budget will be allocated to eight cities and counties around Lake Paldang (Yangpyeong County, Gwangju City, Yeoju City, Yongin City, Namyangju City, Icheon City, Gapyeong County, and Hanam City) and used for a variety of projects, including: maintenance of basic infrastructure such as community centers and roads; income growth projects such as support for eco-friendly farming; and initiatives to improve residents' quality of life and welfare, such as scholarships and medical expense subsidies.
Kim Sungwon, Director of Water Quality Policy at Gyeonggi Province, said, "Despite the overall decrease in the size of the fund, the increase in resident support project funds is a meaningful result in terms of compensating residents of regulated areas for their sacrifices. We will manage the secured resources efficiently to ensure they make a tangible contribution to improving residents' living environments and increasing their incomes."
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