Paju-si, Leap to a '500,000 Population City'... 80% of This Year's Projects Implemented in the First Half

Five Areas Including Youth Space Creation, Total of 49 New and Expanded Implementations

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Among the changing policies in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province this year, 29 projects will start in January alone, and 41 out of 49 projects (83.7%) will be actively implemented in the first half of the year.

According to the city on the 3rd, 44.9% of the projects to be implemented are related to transportation services, leisure space creation, and support for small business owners. In addition, new projects for youth, farmers, and children have also significantly increased.

From January, customized vocational training will be fully launched, opening vocational education courses after conducting corporate demand surveys, and linking trained youth to employment at the respective companies.

The 'Youth Innovation Company Regular Employment Support' project, which provides 1.6 million KRW per month in labor costs for two years when hiring youth in technology innovation-type small and medium enterprises, will also be introduced in January.

From February, the 'Youth Housing Support Project' will be implemented, providing 100,000 KRW per month up to 1.2 million KRW annually to employed youth, and supporting interest on jeonse loans up to 2% per year (maximum 1.2 million KRW annually for two years).

Industrial complex development projects, including Unjeong Techno Valley and six others, will continue steadily.

Policies to address low birth rates, reduce childcare burdens, and support career-interrupted women and the elderly will also change.

Children born after January this year will receive a 'First Meeting Voucher' in addition to the 'Childbirth Congratulatory Money.' This project provides 2 million KRW per infant born in 2022 with a resident registration number as points on the National Happiness Card.

Medical Cluster Aerial View [Paju-si]

From March, the 'High School Credit System' will be operated. In all 19 high schools in Paju-si, students voluntarily select courses including common subjects, and graduation is recognized upon completing a total of 192 credits.

The support scope for infertility treatment costs will increase from the current 7 to 9 times for fresh embryos and from 5 to 7 times for frozen embryos, each increased by two times, and the personal burden rate will be uniformly lowered to 30% for those under 44 years old.

The 'Home Medical Care Pilot Project' will also expand its applicable targets, and the 'Disabled Nuri Account' project to support the independence of severely disabled youth will be implemented from April.

From January, new benefits for national merit recipients will be applied, including independence merit allowances (500,000 KRW per month for patriots, 100,000 KRW per month for bereaved families), health promotion allowances (100,000 KRW annually), and an increase of the veterans' honor allowance to 100,000 KRW.

Along with the demand-responsive bus (DRT) 'Bureumi' introduced in December last year using artificial intelligence (AI), 11 additional village buses on three routes will be operated from the 15th.

The 'Geumchon~Hyehwa Direct Seat Bus' operates 9 vehicles 40 times a day, running at intervals of 20 to 40 minutes per trip, with expanded operation during commuting hours.

Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) Burumi [Paju-si]

In the first half of the year, Uncheon Station will be newly established between Munsan Station and Imjingang Station on the Gyeongui Line and will be officially opened in the second half of this year. The Daegok~Sosa Line extension to Paju is scheduled to sign a consignment agreement this year and open in 2024.

Left and right turn lanes will also be extended at four locations: Garam Village Intersection, Simhak Mountain Intersection, Children's Intersection, and Local Road No. 56 (from Sannae Intersection to Wadong Intersection).

In the second half of the year, numerous projects for pet owners will be implemented. A pet playground of approximately 2,776㎡ (about 839.74 pyeong) will open in July at Camp House Park.

From September, a pet culture class will be operated, and from April, a drive-thru animal registration service will be implemented.

Mayor Choi Jong-hwan of Paju said, "During the 7th elected term, Paju has successfully completed key projects and will implement various new projects for the prosperity and leap of Paju, the peace capital of the Korean Peninsula."

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