Gurye-gun, 2023 Main Budget Plan Set at 345.4 Billion Won

Promoting Local Economic Revitalization and Enhancing County Residents' Welfare Without Delay

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] Jeollanam-do Gurye-gun submitted the 2023 main budget proposal of 345.4 billion KRW to the council on the 18th.

This amount is an increase of 15.4 billion KRW compared to the main budget of 330 billion KRW, allocated as 28.8 billion KRW (8.4%) for culture and tourism, 32.8 billion KRW (9.55%) for the environment, 69 billion KRW (19.9%) for social welfare, 63.4 billion KRW (18.3%) for agriculture, and 24.4 billion KRW (7.0%) for regional development.

This budget reflects the major projects of the newly launched 8th local government administration and plans to steadily promote activities for revitalizing the local economy and improving the welfare of residents.

Large-scale flood recovery and the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 had been major obstacles to financial management, but with the end of the financial burden of flood recovery projects and the lifting of social distancing, economic recovery is expected to somewhat ease financial difficulties.

The county stated that the main direction of next year’s budget focuses on building a regional economic ecosystem such as strengthening agricultural competitiveness, advancing major tourist destinations in the southern region, and creating a livable local infrastructure.

To revitalize the local economy and create jobs, efforts will be made to secure agricultural competitiveness through attracting the Natural Dream Healing Cluster, distributing new income crops, and supporting the establishment of eco-friendly and smart farms. Additionally, projects such as creating a healing agriculture campus and a life healing housing complex utilizing Jirisan Garden will be developed to generate new added value in agriculture and rural areas by linking agriculture, healing, nature, and tourism.

To advance major tourist destinations in the southern region, based on the 4+α tourism zone development plan established during the 7th local government administration, full-scale hub development projects are expected to be promoted.

Tourism clusters in the Osan area will be created, including the Osan cable car project, and through projects in the Seomjingang Healing Ecological Park, smart shared stations, Asiatic black bear habitats, and the Hwaeom 4-color Blue Tour project, stay-type tourism hubs will be established in the Seomjingang, Jirisan Hot Springs, and Hwaeomsa areas.

To create a livable local infrastructure, projects such as water and sewage systems, urban gas supply, wellness complex center construction, and urban regeneration in the eup (town) area will be promoted to continuously improve local infrastructure and residents’ living conditions. Additionally, LH rental housing, youth houses, small-scale public housing sites, and rural study centers will be developed to activate the influx of returnees to farming and rural areas and related populations.

Furthermore, plans include establishing a Happy Family Complex Center, operating cultural and arts classes in cooperation with the Korea National University of Arts, supporting school readiness for children about to enter school, and providing educational support for middle and high school students through CSAT broadcast education, thereby creating an education-friendly city and a family-friendly city where children and parents are happy.

County Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “We are facing a crisis of regional survival due to continuous population decline and aging,” and added, “We will steadily promote the 8th local government administration’s pledged projects to create new future food sources utilizing local resources, attract various related populations interacting with our county beyond the resident population to revitalize the region, and achieve sustainable rural development.”

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr

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