Simmin, Imsil County Governor, Takes Broad Steps to Secure National Budget

Sim Min, Imsil County Governor

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Sim Min, the mayor of Imsil County, has embarked on an extensive campaign to secure national budget for the Seomjingang Renaissance era.

Mayor Sim announced on the 14th that he visited the Government Sejong Complex in line with the full-scale budget formulation by central government ministries for next year, and launched an all-out effort to actively propose securing the national budget for key county projects and major issues.

On that day, Mayor Sim visited the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to fully explain the justification and necessity of disaster prevention projects in response to climate change and the development of the tourism industry based on Okjeongho Lake, and requested active support to reflect these in next year’s government budget proposal.

First, through meetings with Kim Heegyeom, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, the disaster safety control tower of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Jeong Woochul, Head of the Disaster Mitigation Division, he requested the inclusion of new projects and national budget support for ▲ Osu District Flood and Wind Disaster Living Zone Comprehensive Maintenance Project (48 billion KRW) and ▲ Gwanchon-myeon Dugi Natural Disaster Risk Improvement District Maintenance Project (1.7 billion KRW) for permanent disaster prevention.

The Osu District Flood and Wind Disaster Living Zone Comprehensive Maintenance Project is urgently needed as the river passing through Osu-myeon downtown has overflowed several times due to concentrated heavy rains caused by climate change during the rainy season, flooding 22 hectares of urban area and 36 hectares of farmland.

If this project is selected, through the maintenance of stormwater drainage pipes, installation of rainwater pumping stations, and river maintenance, residents of the Osu area who have been living with anxiety will be greatly relieved.

Additionally, if the Gwanchon-myeon Dugi Natural Disaster Risk Improvement District Maintenance Project is selected, it is expected to greatly help protect residents’ lives and property by preemptively blocking disaster risk factors such as frequent flooding and poor drainage around small rivers.

Next, he visited the Fiscal Policy Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to request the passage of the local finance investment review for the prompt commencement of the ▲ Okjeongho Healing Land Development (21.2 billion KRW), linked with the creation of the first phase of the Seomjingang Eco Museum, as a major issue.

He also visited the Grant Tax Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to request special grant tax support for ▲ Okjeongho Eco Nuri Campus Development (7.3 billion KRW), expressing the county government's special interest and support for major projects.

The county plans to actively engage with central government ministries and related agencies to secure the national budget until the end of this month, when the ministry budget formulation is completed.

For projects with negative or lukewarm responses from ministries, the county intends to establish drastic measures and respond thoroughly during the remaining period.

Mayor Sim Min said, “April, when the government budget proposal formulation begins in earnest, is an important time, so all departments will focus on activities to secure the national budget,” adding, “We will carefully monitor ministry responses and devise countermeasures to realize a successful Seomjingang Renaissance era ahead of schedule.”

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