Dongjak-gu, 2021 Budget Proposal Set at a Record High of 679.5 Billion KRW

Focus on Revitalizing Local Economy and Rapid Recovery of Residents' Daily Lives to Overcome COVID-19... Strengthening Infectious Disease Response, Lifecycle-Based Customized Welfare Policies, Expanding Living SOC, and Concentrated Investment in District Future Projects

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) has prepared a total budget of 679.5 billion KRW for next year, marking the second half of the 7th local government term, and submitted it to the district council.

This is the largest budget ever, increasing by 38.2 billion KRW (5.9%) from this year's main budget of 641.3 billion KRW, with 659.6 billion KRW allocated to the general account and 19.9 billion KRW to the special account.

The 2021 budget of Dongjak-gu focuses on policies that enrich residents' lives by quickly restoring daily life and revitalizing the local economy, which has been stagnant due to COVID-19.

The budget expands COVID-19 infectious disease response funds, invests in customized welfare policies by life cycle and expansion of living SOC, and focuses on future projects such as the development of Yongyang Bongjeo-jeong area into a tourist attraction.

By sector, first, the health sector budget was increased by 2.65 billion KRW due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

▲ Including 200 million KRW for disinfection activities, 1.75 billion KRW for infectious disease management projects ▲ 220 million KRW newly allocated for operating the Shindaebang-dong health center to manage local residents' health.

For strengthening the local economy, the economic sector includes ▲ 600 million KRW for discount sales compensation to expand issuance of local love gift certificates worth 30 billion KRW ▲ 790 million KRW to support revitalization of traditional markets ▲ 880 million KRW for management stabilization support for small and medium enterprises and small business owners ▲ 430 million KRW for 2030 customized employment support projects, including 1.12 billion KRW for operating vocational education special zones.

Also, to expand jobs, 710 million KRW was allocated for operating the Dongjak 50 Plus Center, 2.45 billion KRW for public work projects, and 640 million KRW newly allocated for local quarantine job projects, totaling 14.3 billion KRW for public job support.

Meanwhile, the welfare sector budget for residents facing difficulties due to COVID-19 accounts for 53% of the total, amounting to 361 billion KRW, an increase of 13.7 billion KRW from last year due to income reduction among low-income groups and relaxed selection criteria. ▲ Senior basic pension 107.8 billion KRW ▲ Infant and Nuri curriculum childcare fee support 36.5 billion KRW ▲ Living and housing benefits 48.8 billion KRW, etc.

For expanding facilities for the future generation, ▲ 3.2 billion KRW for expanding national and public daycare centers ▲ 940 million KRW for installing and operating open childcare rooms (Mom's Heart Cafe) ▲ 400 million KRW for expanding and supporting operation of the Together Care Center were allocated, with education expenses for nurturing future talents increasing by 14% from this year to 4 billion KRW.

Efforts are also made to expand living SOC that enriches residents' lives. ▲ 7.4 billion KRW for building the Heukseok-dong complex library ▲ 3.15 billion KRW for the Sadang 4-dong Dreamdori Children's Park public parking lot complex project ▲ 2 billion KRW for constructing a small-scale shared parking lot in Sangdo 4-dong ▲ 2.1 billion KRW for land acquisition costs for the Sangdo-dong living SOC complex project.

Furthermore, for a safe and pleasant smart urban environment, ▲ 30.7 billion KRW for waste disposal including daily collection system ▲ 3 billion KRW for modernization fund of Boramae transfer station ▲ 5 billion KRW for undergrounding overhead distribution lines for public line maintenance ▲ 580 million KRW for fine dust reduction projects ▲ 350 million KRW for facility safety management to prevent disaster safety accidents were allocated.

The 2021 budget is expected to be finalized on December 21 after review by the Dongjak-gu Council.

In addition, despite the nearly year-long spread of COVID-19, the district secured about 85.3 billion KRW in external funds through contests and investment project discoveries by the third quarter of this year to promote various projects for residents.

In particular, to prepare for future budget shortages, 4.3 billion KRW was set aside as a financial stabilization fund to enable stable budget management in the long term.

Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “This budget was prepared focusing not only on urgent issues such as COVID-19 response and revitalizing the local economy but also on projects for enriching residents' lives such as expanding living SOC. In 2021, the second half of the 7th local government term, we will do our best to concretely complete the future blueprint for a new leap forward of Dongjak.”

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