Gwanak-gu Allocates 795.3 Billion Won Budget for 2021... Focus on Reviving Livelihood Economy and Enhancing Resident Welfare

3.87% Increase Compared to This Year, Overcoming COVID-19 Recession and Notable Increases in Economy and Job Sectors... Efforts to Enhance Resident Convenience, Proactive Maintenance of Aging Infrastructure, and Securing Resident Welfare and Safety

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) has prepared a budget of 795.3 billion KRW for 2021 and submitted it to the Gwanak-gu Council on the 19th.

This is an increase of 29.66 billion KRW (3.87%) compared to this year, consisting of 779.45 billion KRW in the general account and 15.85 billion KRW in the special account.

Focusing on early recovery from the prolonged COVID-19 impact on the local economy, expanding investment in resident convenience facilities and aging infrastructure, and preparing for the post-COVID era.

In the economy and job sectors, emphasis was placed on people-centered local economic revitalization through ▲creation of representative commercial districts by residential area (1.424 billion KRW) ▲road maintenance for revitalizing alleyway commercial districts (1.21 billion KRW) ▲Byeolbit Sinsari commercial district renaissance (960 million KRW) ▲operation of Zero Pay and local currency (610 million KRW) ▲modernization of traditional market facilities (307 million KRW), among others.

With the goal of fostering startups (ventures) as new growth engines for Gwanak and expanding quality public jobs tailored to residents’ needs, a total of 19.1 billion KRW, a 32.4% increase from this year, will be invested in ▲venture valley startup space operation (414 million KRW) ▲venture business promotion zone feasibility study (610 million KRW) ▲citizen safety job projects (3.764 billion KRW) ▲local quarantine job projects (868 million KRW), etc.

In particular, based on the ‘Research on Revitalizing Local Commercial Districts,’ 2.6 billion KRW was allocated to move away from simple administrative support and help alleyway commercial districts, which are the living spaces of local merchants, develop into sustainable commercial areas. The district aims to create synergy effects linked with traditional markets through themed alleyway streets connected to surrounding local resources and activation of resident communities, reflecting a strong will for rapid and robust economic recovery.

To overcome the COVID crisis and realize a warm Gwanak that residents can feel, a total of 440.4 billion KRW, accounting for 55.4% of the entire budget, was allocated to welfare projects. Major projects for protecting vulnerable groups include ▲construction of Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town (725 million KRW) ▲construction of Gwanak-gu Disabled Center (865 million KRW) ▲green remodeling of daycare centers (559 million KRW) ▲basic pension (150.852 billion KRW) ▲support for senior social activities (11.452 billion KRW), aiming to create a city where every day is happy for Gwanak residents.

Including the operation of screening clinics for proactive COVID-19 response, 13.7 billion KRW was allocated to health and hygiene sectors, and 489 million KRW from the disaster management fund will be used to maintain thorough quarantine systems in multi-use facilities such as traditional markets, senior centers, and daycare centers, including stockpiling of quarantine supplies.

Education expenses support projects increased by 1 billion KRW from this year to 5 billion KRW, and a total of 13.3 billion KRW was allocated to education, including 318 million KRW for middle and high school freshmen admission preparation funds in cooperation with Seoul City and the Education Office. For culture and sports, 21.1 billion KRW was allocated, including operation of the Gwanak Cultural Foundation (9.121 billion KRW), establishment of the Park Jongcheol Center (950 million KRW), and operation and management of sports projects (6.831 billion KRW).

In particular, to create a safe city where all residents, including vulnerable groups such as women and the elderly, can live without anxiety from crime or accident risks, a total of 3.4 billion KRW was allocated for ▲smart integrated control center operation (1.525 billion KRW) ▲crime prevention infrastructure safety projects (215 million KRW), among others.

The district plans to accelerate specialized projects such as newly implementing the ‘Smart City Mid- to Long-Term Master Plan Establishment’ study to create a smart urban environment using advanced new technologies of the 4th industrial era, and establishing a wall fountain and starlight theme zone in Dorimcheon, which was reborn as ‘Byeolbitnaeruncheon’ through Seoul’s first river branding this year.

Mayor Park Junhee stated, “We will lead changes in residents’ lives that they can feel in the post-COVID era through thorough and multifaceted investments and policies in all fields including economy, welfare, and culture, to achieve rapid and strong economic recovery and revitalize the lives of residents exhausted by COVID-19.”

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