Gwangjin-gu Allocates 22.7 Billion KRW Supplementary Budget for Infectious Disease Prevention and Livelihood Stability

The 3rd Supplementary Budget of 22.7 Billion Submitted to the Council on the 14th... Strengthening Infectious Disease Response System Including Designation and Operation of ‘Gwangjin-type Safe Restaurants’... Expansion of ‘Gwangjin Love Gift Certificate Additional Issuance and Payback’ to Promote Consumption... Establishment of Intelligent CCTV Selective Monitoring System and Dense Safety Network

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) submitted the 3rd supplementary budget proposal totaling 22.7 billion KRW to the district council on the 14th to strengthen the infectious disease prevention system and to stabilize residents' lives and revitalize the local economy.

The 3rd supplementary budget proposal is an extension of the 1st and 2nd supplementary budgets, focusing on securing budget for resident-centered projects to further strengthen the infectious disease prevention system and resolve residents' inconveniences amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, the district had prepared emergency supplementary budgets of 20.1 billion KRW in March and 17.2 billion KRW in May to overcome COVID-19.

Strengthening the Existing Infectious Disease Prevention System

The district allocated a total of 830 million KRW to strengthen the existing infectious disease prevention system. First, 90 million KRW will be invested in designating and operating Gwangjin-type Safe Restaurants, and 120 million KRW will be used for the operation costs of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and screening clinics due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

The ‘Gwangjin-type Safe Restaurant’ project expands the existing nationwide ‘Safe Restaurant’ program by additionally supporting non-contact fever check devices and other quarantine supplies to alleviate residents' anxiety, and plans to pilot install protective shields to block droplets.

Also, in preparation for the simultaneous outbreak of COVID-19 and influenza this fall and winter, 620 million KRW has been allocated to expand the free influenza vaccination support targets.

Accordingly, the age range for free influenza vaccination support will be expanded from the existing 6 months to 12 years and 65 years and older to 6 months to 18 years and 62 years and older.

Promoting Local Economy Revitalization through Consumption Promotion

The district will invest 410 million KRW to induce consumption by local residents and revive the stagnant local economy.

As an incentive to revitalize the depressed local economy and consumption sentiment, the district allocated 140 million KRW as a discount subsidy for the additional issuance of ‘Gwangjin Love Gift Certificates’.

Additionally, 270 million KRW has been assigned to the Pay Back program, which refunds 10% (up to 50,000 KRW) to consumers who use 100,000 KRW or more of the Gwangjin Love Gift Certificates.

Establishing a Tight Safety Net and Implementing Resident-Centered Projects

The district allocated 840 million KRW to build an intelligent CCTV selective monitoring system for residents' safety.

The intelligent CCTV selective monitoring system to be installed through this supplementary budget is equipped with a function that selectively monitors only CCTV footage where movement is detected, expected to proactively and preemptively respond to crime prevention and incidents.

Other resident-centered projects include 25 million KRW for installing a new unmanned issuance machine at the National Mental Health Center, 100 million KRW for a research project to create the Achasan Ecological History and Culture Park, 900 million KRW additional budget for undergrounding projects at Neungmaru and Gunja stations, and 100 million KRW for fine dust adsorption filters to be attached to village buses and official vehicles.

Furthermore, 1.731 billion KRW has been allocated for basic pensions and housing benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security for socially vulnerable groups, and 1.136 billion KRW for expanding and improving public facilities such as small-scale senior welfare centers.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “As COVID-19 cases have recently surged mainly in Seoul and the metropolitan area, through this supplementary budget, we will further strengthen the existing infectious disease prevention system and proactively respond to factors threatening residents' life stability, doing our best to ensure residents can live their daily lives with peace of mind.”

The 3rd supplementary budget proposal for 2020 will be finalized in September after deliberation and resolution at the 238th Gwangjin-gu Council extraordinary session.

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