Mayor Byeon Gwang-yong, All-Out Effort to Reflect the 2022 Budget Proposal for Korea-ASEAN National Garden Development Project

Byun Gwang-yong (right), mayor of Geoje-si, Gyeongnam, is meeting with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum to request the inclusion of the Korea-ASEAN National Garden project in the 2022 budget proposal.
[Image source=Geoje-si]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Byeon Gwang-yong, mayor of Geoje City, Gyeongnam, met with the secretary in charge of the Blue House on the 10th to request the inclusion of the basic plan service fee for the Korea-ASEAN National Garden in the 2022 budget proposal and asked for cooperation to make it a new growth engine for the local tourism industry.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance will complete the government budget review in 1 to 3 phases by the end of this month and submit the budget proposal to the National Assembly by September 3.

The inclusion of the basic plan service fee for the Korea-ASEAN Garden in Geoje is currently under review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Mayor Byeon plans to make every effort until the end to secure the service fee, which is the most important factor for the implementation of the project.

The national garden, adopted in the joint chairman’s statement of the 2019 Korea-ASEAN Special Summit, was the only project proposed by the ASEAN countries at the time, and in January of this year, the Korea Forest Service announced the plan to establish it in Geoje City.

Once the national budget for next year is formulated and passed by the National Assembly, the Korea Forest Service will conduct the basic plan service for 2022 and actively promote the garden’s establishment.

The main project contents under consideration include themed gardens, traditional-style gardens, overseas botanical gardens, musical fountains, and exhibition and viewing facilities such as observation towers, with more detailed development plans to be established through the service.

The Korea-ASEAN Garden is expected to benefit forest welfare for ASEAN nationals staying or visiting Korea and the 8 million residents of nearby large cities such as Busan, Ulsan, Changwon, and Gimhae.

Additionally, in preparation for the future opening of the KTX, it is expected to be a groundbreaking turning point for revitalizing the local tourism industry through the establishment of the South Coast Marine Tourism Belt.

Mayor Byeon said, "I hope that related procedures, including the reflection of the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s service fee, proceed smoothly so that the Korea-ASEAN National Garden project can become visible starting next year, and I ask for active interest and support."

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