Busan City Announces '79 Systems and Policies in 5 Major Areas' Changing from 2023

Creating a Robust Social Safety Net, Providing Culture, Welfare, and Safety Services

Integrating Information and Communication Technology... Focusing on Building a Smart Urban Environment

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Dong-guk] Busan City announced 79 systems and policies in 5 major areas that will change from 2023, closely related to citizens' daily lives.

This is to organize the changed systems at a glance to minimize inconvenience and confusion in citizens' lives due to changes and to enhance citizens' convenience.

The announced 5 major areas are ▲ Economy, Youth, Education ▲ Urban, Transportation ▲ Welfare, Childbirth, Childcare ▲ Life, Safety, Environment ▲ Culture, Sports, Tourism.

In a situation where difficulties in the domestic real economy and people's livelihood are increasing due to worsening external conditions such as the global economic crisis, the focus was placed on further strengthening the comprehensive social safety net for all Busan citizens including workers, small business owners, youth, and vulnerable groups, enjoying culture and welfare services without exclusion, and transitioning to an eco-friendly smart transportation system together with citizens.

▲ Economy, Youth, Education sector

To contribute to revitalizing the local economy and maintaining and expanding employment, Busan supports up to 4 people per company with less than 5 regular workers in manufacturing industries located in Busan by providing 300,000 KRW per person annually for the employer's burden of the 4 major social insurances. In 2023, the Busan-type living wage will be increased by 1.9% compared to the previous year to 11,074 KRW per hour, aiming to improve the living standards of workers in Busan City and public institutions under Busan City.

Busan supports one year of repayment interest on student loans for university students, graduate students, and (undergraduate) graduates of universities located in Busan, and provides a living scholarship of 1.5 million KRW per semester to 460 third-year or higher students majoring in information and communication (IT) and business fields at universities in Busan, striving to nurture smart talents who will lead Busan's future.

▲ Urban, Transportation sector

From January 1, 2023, tolls on the Geoga Bridge will be reduced by 2,000 KRW and 3,000 KRW respectively for small and medium-sized vehicles on holidays, resulting in tolls of 8,000 KRW for small vehicles and 12,000 KRW for medium vehicles.

For residential roads in Busan without sidewalks, the road width will be reduced to create or expand sidewalks to secure pedestrian space and establish a safe walking environment. To improve convenience for Busan citizens using public transportation, comfortable boarding and alighting waiting spaces will be provided with air conditioning and heating systems, Wi-Fi, and wireless chargers, aiming to increase satisfaction with public transportation use.

▲ Welfare, Childbirth, Childcare sector

In 2022, free meals were implemented for kindergartens and all schools in the region, and from next year, the unit price for free meals will be increased by 10% compared to the previous year to provide higher quality free meals to kindergarteners and students receiving free meals. Additionally, support will be provided for the purchase of meal and snack ingredients for infants and toddlers using daycare centers, creating an environment where all children and youth in Busan can grow up healthily.

Also, new parental allowances will be introduced for children aged 0 and 1, providing 700,000 KRW and 350,000 KRW per month respectively, and the residency requirement of 'at least 6 months residence' for health management projects targeting mothers and newborns will be removed and expanded, strengthening postpartum care support for more mothers and newborns.

▲ Life, Safety, Environment sector

From next year, a consumer-centered consumption period labeling system will be implemented, allowing consumption to be safe if storage methods indicated on food are followed. To reduce resource waste and environmental damage caused by increased use of disposable products due to the rise of single-person households and the spread of COVID-19 delivery culture, four items?paper cups, plastic straws, plastic stirring sticks, and vinyl umbrellas?will be added to the disposable product regulation targets.

Emergency bells will be installed in public restrooms in Busan to immediately notify the relevant police station or manager in case of safety accidents or crimes, and the obligation to equip emergency equipment for cardiopulmonary resuscitation will be strengthened, striving to create a safe living environment.

▲ Culture, Sports, Tourism sector

Using idle urban spaces in Busan, an artist creation space will be established where both disabled and non-disabled artists can equally engage in creative cultural activities. About 20 individuals and groups will reside here and operate community programs for citizens. Additionally, 1.1 million KRW per person will be provided to 237,826 culturally marginalized people for cultural activities.

The cultural heritage care project for national and city-designated cultural properties, registered cultural properties, and non-designated cultural properties with preservation value will be expanded from the current 115 sites to 138 sites, preventing cultural heritage damage through monitoring, daily management, and minor repairs, and providing a comfortable viewing environment to realize a high-quality cultural city.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun emphasized, "Busan is now at a new turning point for leaping into a global hub city, and to make it a city where the value of 'citizen happiness city' coexists, it is important to continuously improve various systems and policies in a more citizen-oriented manner. We plan to continuously improve policies year by year to get closer to citizens."

He said, "I hope the systems and policies changing in Busan in 2023 will be useful for citizens' lives, and we will do our best to promote so that citizens do not experience confusion due to the changed systems and policies and can easily learn about new and diverse policies."

The systems and policies changing from 2023 can be checked on the Busan City website, and detailed information can be inquired from the responsible departments for each policy.

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