Jangseong-gun Prepares 526.8 Billion Won Main Budget for Next Year... Submitted to County Council

Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 20th that it has drafted the 2024 main budget at a scale of 526.8 billion KRW and submitted it to the county council.

This is a decrease of 0.09%, approximately 400 million KRW, compared to this year's main budget.

Despite a reduction of local allocation tax by about 32 billion KRW due to the government's decrease in domestic taxes and comprehensive real estate tax, the budget was able to be drafted at a level similar to this year's main budget.

Jangseong County Governor Kim Han-jong delivering the government policy speech at the council on the 20th. [Photo by Jangseong County]

The reason the county was able to minimize the reduction is due to an increase in national and provincial subsidies.

Through close communication with Jeollanam-do and central government ministries, the county succeeded in securing 32.2 billion KRW in national and provincial subsidies for projects such as the natural disaster risk improvement district maintenance project, steep slope collapse risk area maintenance project, Jangseongho waterfront tourism revitalization project, youth center construction, youth culture house construction, and new park golf course development project.

However, it is not a situation to let down its guard. Excluding these projects, it is inevitable to reduce projects due to the decrease in local allocation tax and to cut the budget for self-operated projects funded purely by the county's own funds.

When drafting the 2024 budget, the county focused on tightening its belt by boldly cutting current expenses and unnecessary budgets, and thoroughly reviewing the local subsidy budget.

The secured budget will be mainly invested in six areas: promoting future core infrastructure projects, pioneering the '10 million tourism era,' creating a leading agricultural environment, implementing people-centered customized welfare, supporting small business owners to overcome economic crises, and creating a safe living environment.

Jangseong-gun, where the establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute was finally confirmed last July, plans to start feasibility studies for construction next year and begin construction in 2027. The institute will be built on a 19,800㎡ site near the Nam-myeon Jangseong Nano Industrial Complex, with 100.1 billion KRW of national funds invested, and is scheduled for completion in 2029.

Near the research institute, the 490 billion KRW Jangseong Kakao Data Center is also planned to be established, which is expected to have synergistic effects such as job creation, population inflow, and tax revenue increase.

By promoting the 'Jangseong 5 Major Flavor Streets' project, which specializes food and tourism by region, the county is also focusing on securing future food sources linked to food and tourism. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance the value of tourism resources by utilizing natural scenery such as the suspension bridge crossing Jangseongho and the Chukryeongsan Sky Forest Trail.

Furthermore, the business agreement signed last September between Jangseong-gun and The Born Korea Co., Ltd., led by CEO Baek Jong-won, will effectively link the local economy, traditional markets, and tourist attractions. This is expected to secure new momentum to open the '10 million Jangseong tourism era.'

In the agricultural sector, the county is accelerating efforts to actively respond to the changing agricultural environment by fostering lemon cultivation complexes, supporting subtropical crops, and establishing a subtropical botanical garden.

Support will also be provided for the smooth construction of the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center of the Rural Development Administration, scheduled for completion in 2025. A dormitory for foreign workers will be built to improve working conditions and help solve the rural labor shortage problem.

By constructing a family center, the county aims to provide a quality childcare environment, while also focusing on overcoming low birth rates through measures such as childbirth incentives and support for infertile couples.

Following the youth dream voucher card (youth allowance) support, entrance congratulatory money for elementary, middle, and high school students, and university tuition support that started this year, next year the county will build a youth center and youth culture house to create a local environment where young people and adolescents can live with hope.

To promote economic independence among elderly residents, the county plans to increase the number of participants and activity days in senior jobs, and expand the use of the representative senior welfare policy, the filial piety voucher, from being limited to beauty and hair services to include 'health rights.'

In the local economy sector, attention is drawn to the continuation of issuing Jangseong Love Gift Certificates with county funds despite the government's suspension of regional currency financial support next year. Support for small business owners such as store rent, management improvement, and restaurant standing table support will also continue.

Jeollanam-do's first 'CCTV intelligent selective control system operation' and natural disaster risk improvement district maintenance will establish conditions for all residents to live safely.

The Cheongun Underpass construction, which has attracted much attention from many residents, will also proceed as planned to overcome the limitations of Jangseong-eup's development divided by the Honam Line railroad.

In the 2nd regular session of the 355th Jangseong County Council held on the 20th, Kim Han-jong, Jangseong County Governor, said, "Even in the crisis of budget cuts, we will definitely find opportunities and realize 'a happy Jangseong for the residents.'"

Jangseong = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Han-gyu baekok@asiae.co.kr

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