National Assembly Cuts Next Year's Government Budget by 4 Trillion Won... Seoul Metropolitan Council's Recovery Committee Increases by 99.2 Billion Won

Seoul Metropolitan Council Environment and Water Resources Committee (Chairman Im Mangyun), Preliminary Review Amendment of the 2025 Budget Proposal
Approved 2.52958 trillion KRW

While the Democratic Party of Korea announced plans to cut next year’s government budget by 4 trillion won, drawing strong opposition from the People Power Party and the government, the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Environment and Water Resources Committee drew attention by approving a budget increase of 99.2 billion won over the amount submitted by the Seoul city government, showing a stark contrast.

From the 22nd to the 28th of last month, Chairman Lim Man-gyun and committee members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Environment and Water Resources Committee conducted a preliminary review of the 2025 budget proposals under the jurisdiction of the Climate Environment Headquarters, Future Hangang Headquarters, Garden City Bureau, and Seoul Arisu Headquarters. They approved a revised budget of 2.52958 trillion won, which is 99.23 billion won more than the originally submitted budget by the respective departments.

During the preliminary review, the committee focused on whether it is possible to maintain fiscal soundness in the 2025 budget while investing only in essential projects, and whether financial efficiency can be improved without wasteful expenditures.

The 2025 budget for the Climate Environment Headquarters was set at 584.129 billion won. The committee approved a revised budget that reduced 6.455 billion won from projects such as the “Construction of Gangdong-gu Resource Circulation Center” and increased 1.651 billion won for projects including the “Resource Recovery Facility Modernization Promotion Project.”

In the preliminary review, the committee pointed out insufficient connections between the “Low-Carbon Lifestyle Culture Campaign” and climate crisis response practices and vegetarianism, as well as concerns about promoting specific dietary habits in public campaigns, leading to budget cuts. However, recognizing the need to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major cause of ozone formation, the committee increased the budget to support installation costs for VOC reduction facilities in small laundries. These adjustments aim to reasonably support the creation of a “Safe Resource Circulation City Seoul from the Climate Crisis.”

The 2025 budget for the Future Hangang Headquarters was set at 126.292 billion won. The committee approved a revised budget that cut 742 million won from projects such as “Hangang Waterway Safety Facility Management” and increased 6.527 billion won for projects including “Bicycle Road Maintenance.”

There were calls to pay close attention to the safety management of “floating facilities” planned for Hangang Park, including the water food zone, and to focus on safety issues in preparation for the operation of the “Hangang Bus,” which has been rescheduled to March 2025. However, since the revised budget increasing funds for bicycle road maintenance and Hangang Park access facility management was ultimately approved, the plan is to place greater emphasis on improving accessibility for the “Future Seoul Driven by the Hangang.”

The 2025 budget for the Garden City Bureau was set at 789.087 billion won. The committee approved a revised budget that cut 620 million won from events and maintenance at the Culture Storage Base and increased 98.87 billion won for projects such as the creation of “Book Resting Areas” within parks.

Although the Garden City Bureau’s budget increased by 46.4% compared to the previous year’s original budget of 690.837 billion won, it was pointed out that excluding 280 billion won allocated for the repayment of local bonds related to compensation for long-unexecuted urban parks, the actual budget for park maintenance decreased. There were also concerns about the “Pet Memorial Hall” project due to its proximity to facilities in Gyeonggi Province and a lack of prior review and justification. Nevertheless, the revised budget, which was ultimately approved, aims to expand green infrastructure and healing spaces that enable citizens’ green leisure activities for a “Charming Park and Garden City Seoul.”

The 2025 budget for the Seoul Arisu Headquarters was set at 1.03 trillion won. The committee approved a revised budget that cut funds in four projects including the “Relocation of Water Supply Materials Management Center” and increased funds in five projects including “Cleaning of Large Water Supply Pipes.”

While emphasizing the urgent need for “Cleaning of Aging Water Supply Pipes” to provide clean tap water, the committee pointed out that the 2025 budget was nearly halved compared to the previous year. They increased the pipe cleaning budget by 7.6 billion won from the original amount and added 300 million won for one additional “Arisu Truck,” which was introduced for the first time this year and received enthusiastic responses from citizens. This aims to supply trustworthy and drinkable Arisu water to the public.

Chairman Lim Man-gyun said, “I would like to thank the council members who worked together to safely complete the preliminary review of the 11th term’s second half Environment and Water Resources Committee budget and all the staff who worked hard.” He added, “We completed the preliminary review by maintaining projects closely related to current issues and adjusting those that were excessively budgeted or less urgent so that the ten million citizens of Seoul can enjoy a safe and pleasant environment. We will continue to do our best to be a committee that carefully examines even the smallest details.”

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