Mokpo City Reflects 76 Cases and 657.4 Billion Won in 2023 Government Budget Proposal

Left: Kim Wan-seop, Director of Budget Office, Ministry of Economy and Finance; Right: Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo (Photo by Mokpo City)

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] Next year's government budget includes 76 cases totaling 657.4 billion won for Mokpo City.

According to Mokpo City on the 2nd, the budget plan decided during the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's review process increased by 9.1 billion won compared to the central government departments' proposal of 648.3 billion won, and excluding the Honam High-Speed Railway Phase 2 project cost, it is an increase of 26.3 billion won compared to the previous year.

This is the result of comprehensive efforts by Mayor Park Hong-ryul and public officials since the launch of the 8th local government, who visited central government departments such as the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries multiple times to persuade the necessity of national funding support for the smooth promotion of pending projects, along with Jeollanam-do and local political circles.

The major projects reflected in the government budget plan include ▲Creation of a Fisheries Food Export Complex ▲Establishment of the Western Maintenance Base for the Coast Guard ▲Honam High-Speed Railway Phase 2 project from Mokpo to Songjeong ▲Projects related to eco-friendly ships ▲Projects related to the National Honam Biological Resources Center.

The Fisheries Food Export Complex project involves a total project cost of 108.9 billion won to be invested by 2025 in the Daeyang Industrial Complex, concentrating on fisheries food processing, distribution, export, startup support, and research and development. The government plan includes 10 billion won for construction costs.

The Western Maintenance Base project for the Coast Guard, aimed at strengthening maritime security and providing optimal repair support for marine patrol vessels, has been allocated 57 billion won in the government budget plan to ensure smooth progress.

The Honam High-Speed Railway Phase 2 construction (Gwangju Songjeong to Mokpo), with a total project cost of 2.53 trillion won and scheduled for completion in 2025, includes 304.6 billion won for construction costs (including funds from the Korea Rail Network Authority).

The eco-friendly ship industry promotion centered on Namhang includes budgets reflected in the government plan for related projects such as the development of innovative technologies for the entire lifecycle of eco-friendly ships (11.3 billion won) and the development and demonstration of mixed fuel technology for eco-friendly ships (9.3 billion won).

The National Honam Biological Resources Center has been allocated budgets in the government plan for building a regional hub Edu Center (5.4 billion won) and installing a research exhibition greenhouse (4 billion won) to enhance eco-friendly ecological experience spaces and educational facilities.

In addition, projects such as ▲Renovation of Yudal Municipal Tennis and Soft Tennis Courts (2 billion won) ▲Southern Coast Railway (Boseong to Mokpo) High-Speed Project (35.4 billion won) ▲Construction of Mokpo Inner Port Passenger Wharf (14.2 billion won) ▲Expansion of North Port Fishing Boat Mooring (10 billion won) ▲Coastal Maintenance Project in Daebandong (5.7 billion won) ▲Tourism Hub City Development (8.7 billion won) ▲Fishing Village New Deal 300 Project (3.5 billion won) ▲Construction of National Road No. 77 (Aphae to Hwawon) Connecting Road (70.8 billion won) have also been smoothly reflected in the government budget plan.

Next year's government budget plan will be submitted to the National Assembly by the 3rd, undergo preliminary review by the standing committees and comprehensive review by the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts in October and November, and be finalized at the plenary session in December.

Mayor Park Hong-ryul said, “Pending projects for regional development and economic revitalization have been reflected in the government budget plan,” and added, “We will closely cooperate with local National Assembly member Kim Won-i and the political circles to ensure that as much budget as possible is reflected during the National Assembly review process.”

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