Gangjin-gun, 385.1 Billion Won Drafted for Next Year's Main Budget

Focus on Overcoming COVID-19 and Increasing Income for Military Residents

(Center) Lee Seung-ok, the county governor, is reviewing the budgets of departments and divisions. Photo by Gangjin County

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Gangjin County has prepared a main budget of 385.1 billion won (general account 376.8 billion won, special account 8.3 billion won) and submitted it to the county council on the 10th. This is an increase of 9.9 billion won (2.65%) compared to last year's main budget.

According to Gangjin County, due to the decrease in local taxes caused by COVID-19, the grant tax has decreased. Reflecting the diverse financial demands and opinions of the residents and considering the possibility of budget execution in the first half of the year, the county reexamined annually repetitive budget projects from the ground up during the budget preparation stage.

Above all, the county focused on creating residents' income linked to job creation, supporting agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fisheries, and establishing a stay-type tourism industry where visitors can linger.

Operating expenses such as administrative operating costs were frozen at the usual level, and unnecessary budgets were cut, focusing on the necessity and validity of projects in preparing the budget.

The main expenditure items of next year's budget include 135.6 billion won for designated projects such as national and provincial subsidies, and 67.8 billion won as the county's share of subsidies, which will be used to improve residents' welfare and increase residents' income.

Looking at the budget for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the largest budget of 110.9 billion won was allocated to agriculture, forestry, marine fisheries, and livestock sectors, including 350 million won for rice packaging material support projects, 400 million won for agricultural machinery support projects, 4.65 billion won for rice cultivation management stabilization funds, 5.275 billion won for the Saemangeum New Deal 300 project, and 300 million won for cockle shellfish seedling support.

Also, aiming to foster a stay-type tourism industry and revitalize the local economy by attracting tourists, 34.9 billion won was allocated to culture and tourism sectors, including 760 million won for a planned contest-type regional tourism development project, 500 million won for the Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival, 800 million won for the Gangjin Celadon Festival, 1.8 billion won for the Wolchulsan tourist attraction project, and 1.5 billion won for the development of content along the Gaudo exploration trail.

In the social welfare sector, 71.5 billion won will be invested, including 480 million won for free meals at senior centers, 160 million won for senior center activation programs, and 180 million won for the operation of youth training centers.

County Governor Lee Seung-ok said, “Despite the difficulties caused by the decrease in grant taxes due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, we have focused the budget on selecting and concentrating limited resources to increase residents' income by fostering key future regional development engines such as job creation, high value-added agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries industries, and stay-type tourism projects.”

Meanwhile, the next year's budget submitted by Gangjin County will be finalized after review and resolution during the 268th Gangjin County Council's 2nd regular session, held from the 17th of this month to the 16th of next month.

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