Gwanak-gu in the 2nd Year of the 7th Civilian Administration Attracts 605.2 Billion Won in External Funding

Establishment of Dedicated 'External Policy Team' for Public Project Management (July 2018) and Employee Capacity Building Training (May 2019)... Distribution of Public Project Manual (January 2020) Focusing Administrative Efforts on Securing External Funding

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Junhee) has demonstrated outstanding achievements by attracting 605.2 billion KRW in external funds from the central government and Seoul Metropolitan Government over two years during the 7th local government administration.

The district announced that from July 2018, when the 7th local government began, until the end of May this year, it secured a total of 605.2 billion KRW in external funds, including 52.4 billion KRW in national funds and 543.5 billion KRW in city funds.

Mayor Park Junhee judged that securing external funds urgently, in addition to the district’s own finances, was a critical task to secure driving forces for local economic development. As a result, all departments worked together intensively to secure national and city funds.

The detailed types of funding include ▲public contest projects (191 cases, 74.6 billion KRW) ▲special grants (80 cases, 25.8 billion KRW) ▲special local grants (31 cases, 11.4 billion KRW) ▲reallocated projects such as comprehensive project funds (214 cases, 376.68 billion KRW) ▲awards from external institution evaluations (124 cases, 4.46 billion KRW), among others.

Through securing such external funds, the district is accelerating major policy projects such as fostering Nakseong Venture Valley, restoring Dorimcheon ecological stream, and expanding living SOC facilities.

In particular, large-scale financial projects include the ‘Nangok-Nanhyang Urban Regeneration Revitalization Project,’ selected as part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s ‘2018 Urban Regeneration New Deal Project,’ securing a budget of 23.5 billion KRW. Following this, last year, the district was also selected for the ‘Euncheon-dong Hope Making Project,’ attracting an additional 12 billion KRW in external funds.

Additionally, last year, the district was selected for the ‘Commercial District Renaissance Project’ led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, which revitalizes the deteriorated old downtown commercial area. A total budget of 8 billion KRW will be invested in the Seowon-dong and Sinwon-dong areas through 2024.

Along with Seoul National University, the district achieved good results in the ‘2020 Seoul Campus Town Comprehensive Project,’ and up to 10 billion KRW in city funds will be supported over four years, including 2 billion KRW this year.

Notably, despite the difficult internal and external circumstances due to COVID-19 this year, the district secured project funds aimed at improving residents’ convenience, such as ▲three smart technology utilization fields including robot use to support socially vulnerable groups (470 million KRW) ▲urban forest cultivation to reduce fine dust (680 million KRW) ▲school education environment improvement projects (790 million KRW).

Since the start of the 7th local government, Gwanak-gu has reorganized its structure and formed the ‘External Policy Team’ to focus administrative efforts on securing external funds.

The district comprehensively managed the progress of each public contest project and responded enterprise-wide through regular reporting sessions and ad hoc work meetings.

Moreover, policy meetings and working-level consultations were held through interdepartmental collaboration to secure national and city funds.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “All staff united with one heart to make every effort to attract external funds to enhance urban competitiveness and residents’ quality of life,” adding, “We will continue to expand necessary funds for district administration issues and residents’ long-standing projects in various fields such as economy, welfare, education, and culture.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.