Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju, Engages in 'Footwork Administration' to Secure Next Year's National Budget and Resolve Current Issues

Meeting between Andogeol, Budget Director, and Choi Sangdae, Budget Review Officer, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance

Mayor Jun Nak-yeong of Gyeongju is seen meeting with Ando-geol, Budget Director of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (second from the left) on the 30th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Joonak-young, mayor of Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is actively engaging in on-the-ground administration to resolve pending issues such as securing national funding for next year.

As the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's budget review for the next year's government budget bill is in full swing, Mayor Joonak-young visited the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on the 30th, holding meetings with Ando-geol, Director General of the Budget Office, and Choi Sang-dae, Chief Budget Review Officer, demonstrating a broad and active approach.

There are approximately 88 new and ongoing projects that Gyeongju City must pursue in 2021, requiring national funding amounting to 544.5 billion KRW.

The main proposed projects under the Economic Budget Review Office include ▲255 billion KRW for the establishment of an innovative nuclear research and development foundation ▲construction of marine leisure infrastructure such as scattered historic sites (Gameunsa, Girimsa, Golgulsa) and the Yangnam columnar joint cluster ▲expansion of National Road No. 31 and establishment and expansion of National Road No. 14 ▲construction of a 4-lane national road between Nongsu and Oedong (30 billion KRW) ▲establishment of a 2-lane national road between Yangnam and Gampo (15 billion KRW).

The main proposed projects under the Social Budget Review Office include ▲restoration and maintenance of core relics of Silla Royal Capital (34.7 billion KRW) ▲maintenance of King Munmu’s tomb (5.4 billion KRW) ▲maintenance of sewage pipelines in the Hyeongok Sohyeon treatment district (5 billion KRW). Key proposed projects under the Welfare and Safety Budget Review Office include ▲comprehensive maintenance project for flood and wind disaster living zones in the Angang district (6.5 billion KRW) ▲maintenance project for natural disaster risk improvement in the Daegok-Geumcheok district (3 billion KRW) ▲maintenance project for natural disaster risk improvement in the Namcheon district (1 billion KRW).

Mayor Joonak-young of Gyeongju City stated, "Due to reductions in local allocation tax and local taxes caused by COVID-19, securing national funding is essential for the smooth progress of pending projects. We will actively utilize personal networks such as local lawmakers and expatriates and continuously explore and respond with all possible methods until the next year's budget bill is finally confirmed."

Meanwhile, the government budget bill will be finally submitted to the National Assembly on September 3 after reviews by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in various sectors and the Cabinet meeting. The submitted bill will go through the National Assembly’s standing committees, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, and plenary sessions before being finalized in early December.

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