Wonju City Secures Major Local Priorities in Next Year’s Government Budget Proposal

Expansion of AI and R&D Investment Drives Results Amid Focus on Welfare and Balanced Regional Development
Continued All-Out Efforts Until Final Approval by the National Assembly

Wonju City in Gangwon Province has achieved significant success by ensuring that major local priorities such as digital healthcare, medical artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, and next-generation automotive electronic components are included in the government's proposed budget for next year.

According to Wonju City on August 30, this outcome aligns with the government's focus on expanding AI investment, strengthening research and development (R&D) competitiveness, enhancing public welfare support, and accelerating balanced regional development.

The major projects included in the budget are as follows: ▲ Establishment of an AI Convergence Innovation Education Hub based on digital healthcare (3.5 billion won) ▲ Leading digital twin convergence medical innovation (2.4 billion won) ▲ Establishment of a training center for medical AI semiconductor professionals (2.9 billion won) ▲ Establishment of a reliability verification center for system semiconductors in next-generation automotive electronic components (2.9 billion won) ▲ Construction of the Guryongsa Meditation Center (1.8 billion won) ▲ New construction of the Wonju Bongandang Columbarium (500 million won) ▲ Implementation of a demonstration project for wooden architecture using domestic timber in Wonju (500 million won) ▲ Expansion of the western regional wide-area transportation network (9 billion won) ▲ Expansion of public parking lots in market revitalization zones (100 million won) ▲ Expansion of the public bus depot in Wonju (500 million won) ▲ Maintenance of aging water supply pipelines in Wonju (2.3 billion won) ▲ Maintenance of Wonju's sewage pipeline network (23.7 billion won), among others.

Since the beginning of the year, Wonju City has operated the 'National and Provincial Funding Task Force' and the 'Private Cooperation Support Team' composed of private experts, closely monitoring the progress of each project. The mayor has personally overseen key issues and has continuously advocated for the inclusion of these projects to the central government, the National Assembly, and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

In particular, the city intensively managed critical and key projects through the National and Provincial Funding Strategy Briefing, with all departments making concerted efforts to fulfill pledges and directives. In addition, Wonju City established close cooperative relationships with central government agencies, the National Assembly, and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, actively explaining the feasibility of each project and working to secure national funding.

Won Kangsoo, Mayor of Wonju, stated, "The inclusion of these projects in the government budget proposal is a valuable achievement created together by Wonju City and its citizens." He added, "As our strategic response aligned with government policy has produced results, we will continue to work closely with local members of the National Assembly and do our utmost to ensure final approval by the legislature."