Seoul Metropolitan Council Approves Revised 2021 First Supplementary Budget of Seoul City and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Increased by 4.2583 Trillion Won

Seoul City Increases 4.2583 Trillion KRW Over 2021 Budget for Post-COVID, Enhanced Quarantine, and Livelihood Economy Support... Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Increases 1.1072 Trillion KRW Over 2021 Budget Including AI-Based Convergent Future Education System Transformation (131.8 Billion KRW)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Special Committee (Chairman Song Jae-hyuk, Nowon 6·photo) amended and approved the 1st supplementary budget submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 2nd.

The supplementary budget of Seoul City amended and approved by the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Special Committee was originally submitted at 44.6494 trillion won, and was approved at 44.6706 trillion won after an increase of 21.2 billion won. In the case of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, it was originally submitted at 10.8491 trillion won, and it was confirmed that 35.4 billion won was adjusted up and down respectively without any change in the total amount.

Regarding the 1st supplementary budget of Seoul City, through the contribution to the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation (increase of 112.5 billion won), a total of 2 trillion won in loans and guarantee conversions (bridge guarantees) for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners affected by COVID-19 were supported. The budget was increased and finalized to create 19,566 direct jobs by the end of the year by increasing the Seoul Citizen Safety Jobs (increase of 10 billion won) and the 2021 Hope Work Support Project (increase of 2.1 billion won).

In addition, through this supplementary budget, the Youth Monthly Rent Support (increase of 17.9 billion won) expanded the number of beneficiaries from the existing 5,000 to 27,000, and financial foundations were prepared to strengthen urban competitiveness through ▲promotion of the Seoul International Exchange Complex District Development Project (increase of 190 million won) ▲support for the development of the northern area of Seoul Station (increase of 200 million won) ▲support for the Gimpo Airport Complex Development Project (increase of 500 million won).

Furthermore, the Budget and Accounts Special Committee approved the supplementary budget of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, increasing 131.8 billion won for purchasing tablet PCs and establishing wireless APs to convert future education systems to digital textbooks or online content due to changes in the educational environment caused by COVID-19. They also expanded the placement of learning space guardians to 415 schools and increased the budget by 46.8 billion won to secure additional COVID-19 prevention personnel to create a safe school environment.

Additionally, 34.7 billion won was increased to guarantee basic academic skills for elementary and middle school students through programs such as Kidari Saem and online tutors to reduce educational gaps, and 313.5 billion won was approved to improve future learning spaces and educational environments.

Along with the review of the supplementary budget, the 2020 fiscal year settlement was also approved. However, prior to the approval, the Seoul Metropolitan Council demanded improvements to inefficient budget execution cases such as repetitive carryovers and excessive unused funds every year.

Song Jae-hyuk, Chairman of the Budget and Accounts Committee (Nowon 6), explained, “Since overcoming the stagnant livelihood economy recovery, jobs, and quarantine issues due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is the top priority, the 1st supplementary budget for 2021 was approved from a magnanimous perspective.”

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