Dongdaemun-gu, 2021 Budget of 685.6 Billion Won Confirmed by District Council Vote

General Account 662 Billion, Special Account 23.6 Billion... Separate Operation Plan for Funds Including Disaster Management Fund 40.6 Billion... Focused Budgeting for COVID-19 and Post-COVID Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that the 2021 budget plan totaling 685.6686 billion KRW, including 662 billion KRW in the general account and 23.6686 billion KRW in the special account, has been finalized after going through the review process of the district council.

This represents a 6.6% increase compared to this year's original budget of 643.3721 billion KRW.

The fund of 40.6539 billion KRW increased by 46.54% compared to the previous year due to the operation of the disaster management fund for COVID-19 preparedness, expansion of the small and medium enterprise development fund, and the integrated financial stabilization fund for stable district finances.

The Dongdaemun District Council reviewed the budget proposal submitted by the executive branch through three standing committees: the Operations Committee, the Administrative Planning Committee, and the Welfare and Construction Committee, before submitting it to the Budget and Settlement Special Committee.

The Budget and Settlement Special Committee reduced the expenditure budget by 3.72038 billion KRW and the fund operation plan by 49 million KRW before submitting it to the plenary session.

On the afternoon of the 15th, the district council approved the budget as reviewed and adjusted by the Budget and Settlement Special Committee at the 302nd regular plenary session.

The district plans to operate the 2021 budget focusing on discovering and promoting Dongdaemun-type New Deal projects suitable for the post-COVID-19 era and district conditions, supporting small business owners and self-employed persons to recover from COVID-19 damage, stabilizing the local economy through employment reinforcement, addressing low birthrate and aging population issues, strengthening customized welfare services, improving educational conditions, and faithfully implementing projects for regional development and residents' livelihood stability.

Proactive Response to COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Era and Promotion of Dongdaemun-type New Deal Projects

The district allocated 800 million KRW for COVID-19 medical support personnel, operation of screening clinics, and COVID-19 quarantine. Additionally, a disaster management fund of 6.3 billion KRW will be separately operated for the prevention and rapid response to various disasters including COVID-19.

For proactive response in the post-COVID-19 era, 70 million KRW was allocated to discover and promote Dongdaemun-type New Deal projects and to innovate work processes.

Strengthening Welfare Services such as Childcare and Jobs... Welfare Sector Accounts for 54.7% of Total Budget

The welfare sector budget for next year was set at 361.7 billion KRW, an increase of 16.8 billion KRW compared to this year, accounting for 54.7% of the total budget.

Specifically, the budget includes ▲1.234 trillion KRW for senior citizens' basic pension ▲419 billion KRW for livelihood benefits ▲33.2 billion KRW for infant and toddler childcare support ▲16.1 billion KRW for child allowance ▲9 billion KRW for senior citizen job projects ▲11.3 billion KRW for support of disability activity assistance benefits.

In particular, 2.9 billion KRW was allocated for emergency welfare support projects to assist families in crisis due to COVID-19 and other reasons, aiming to provide swift support so that families in difficulty can overcome crises and maintain their livelihoods.

Enhancing Educational Environment for ‘Dongdaemun-gu, a Leading City of First-Class Education for the Future Society’

The district allocated 14 billion KRW more than this year, totaling 14 billion KRW, to foster creative and convergent future talents who will lead the changing era and to enhance the educational environment.

In 2021, 270 million KRW was newly allocated for the entrance preparation support project to assist middle and high school entrants with costs for uniforms and smart (online learning) devices, taking a step closer to guaranteeing equal educational opportunities without blind spots.

Despite difficult financial conditions, 7.1 billion KRW was allocated for subsidies for elementary, middle, and high school education expenses to support academic achievement of local students and improve educational facilities.

Budgets will also be actively invested in ▲49 billion KRW for free education burdens and eco-friendly free meals for elementary, middle, and high schools ▲500 million KRW for promoting Seoul-type innovative education districts.

Additionally, about 700 million KRW was allocated for operating the Education Vision Center, Admission Counseling Center, and Career and Vocational Experience Support Center to run various non-face-to-face and customized programs helping students discover their talents and aptitudes and explore career paths.

Creating a Self-sustaining Local Economic Ecosystem and Revitalizing Regional Economic Dynamism

The district will focus on supporting small business owners and self-employed persons to recover from COVID-19 damage, revitalizing traditional markets, promoting various job projects, and revitalizing the local economy through urban regeneration projects.

To this end, an additional 3 billion KRW was raised for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund to support management stabilization for SMEs and small business owners facing financial difficulties.

Other allocations include ▲960 million KRW for traditional market management and facility modernization projects ▲310 million KRW for operating the Startup Integrated Support Center and SME management support projects ▲3.71 billion KRW for Seoul citizens' safe jobs, local quarantine, and community job projects ▲440 million KRW for youth job support, career interruption women and middle-aged vocational education, and job linkage projects.

In particular, 300 million KRW was allocated for discount compensation of mobile local love gift certificates, issuing 15 billion KRW worth of local love gift certificates to invigorate the local economy.

Urban regeneration projects will continue from last year, investing ▲3.8 billion KRW in Jegi-dong Gamcho Village ▲4 billion KRW in Jegi-dong Godeaemap Village ▲100 million KRW in alleyway regeneration projects to improve physical, economic, and social infrastructure.

Improving Living Environment and Establishing Urban Safety Network

Budgets will also be invested in living safety and environmental sectors to improve residents' quality of life and safety.

Allocations include ▲1.7 billion KRW for sewage facility maintenance and management ▲1.6 billion KRW for rainwater pump station maintenance and safety inspection of sluice gates ▲1.1 billion KRW for maintenance and management of river facilities such as Jungnangcheon ▲1.6 billion KRW for park maintenance and management ▲2.1 billion KRW for natural ecological restoration and green corridor creation ▲3 billion KRW for streetlight and security light maintenance and repair ▲1.2 billion KRW for operating the CCTV integrated control center.

To create a pollution-free living environment, about 450 million KRW was allocated for projects such as fine dust and air pollution management, management of environmental pollutant emitting businesses, and promotion of renewable energy such as solar mini power plants.

Additionally, a dedicated team will be newly established to intensively promote safety management of private buildings and construction sites, operating a special construction safety account with a budget of 600 million KRW.

Furthermore, 42.1 billion KRW was allocated for waste and recyclable material processing and local cleaning, and 150 million KRW was set aside for residents' life safety insurance and bicycle insurance subscriptions, carefully budgeting to ensure residents can live in a more pleasant and safe environment.

Promoting Culture, Arts, and Sports Policies to Provide Rest for Residents Weary from COVID-19

For promoting Dongdaemun-gu's unique traditional cultural events and local cultural events, 110 million KRW was allocated for the Spring Flower Festival and 30 million KRW for the World Street Dance Festival.

In particular, in 2021, the district was selected for the Cultural Heritage Administration's regional cultural heritage protection support project, receiving national and city funding to invest 200 million KRW in events such as Seonnongdaeje, Cheongryong Cultural Festival, Seoul Yakryeongsi Bojehyang Ritual, as well as in documenting Dongdaemun-gu's intangible cultural heritage.

To enhance residents' physical strength and immunity, 70 million KRW was allocated for supporting community sports classes. These event-related projects are planned to be conducted non-face-to-face if COVID-19 continues.

Seventy-seven billion KRW was allocated for managing and operating public sports facilities such as Dongdaemun-gu Gymnasium, 4.7 billion KRW for operating libraries including the ‘Dongdaemun Chaekmadang’ library opened in 2020 to improve residents' accessibility, and an additional 1.7 billion KRW to remodel aging cultural centers and create movie exhibition and experience halls.

Also, 5.4 billion KRW was allocated to build a new-concept complex administrative building in Imun 2-dong, where the community center was completed over 30 years ago, aiming to improve the quality of resident services.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “While thoroughly conducting quarantine measures against COVID-19, we will also prepare thoroughly for the changing era after COVID-19 to lead future district administration. We have carefully allocated only the necessary projects from the residents' perspective, focusing next year's budget on local welfare, education, and economic stability, and will do our best to ensure the budget is used efficiently.”

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