Inje County Sets 2026 Main Budget at 668.5 Billion Won, Focuses Investment on Tourism and Station Area Development

Submitted to County Council
Pursuing Leap Toward "10 Million Tourist City"

Inje County in Gangwon Province announced on November 23 that it has drafted its main budget for 2026 at 668.5 billion won and submitted it to the county council.

A view of Inje County Office.

The county stated that, despite challenging revenue conditions caused by high interest rates and rising prices leading to an economic downturn, it strategically allocated its budget, prioritizing key projects of the 8th popularly elected administration such as tourism and station area development, as well as allocating resources to livelihood policies that residents can directly feel.

The general account was structured with revenue sources including 21.6 billion won from local taxes, 29.6 billion won from non-tax revenue, 336.8 billion won from local allocation tax, 9.3 billion won from adjustment grants, and 169.5 billion won from national and provincial subsidies.

The total expenditure budget for next year was set at 668.5 billion won, an increase of about 1.75% (11.5 billion won) compared to the previous year. The general account increased by about 7.78% (42.9 billion won) to 595.5 billion won, while the special account decreased by about 30.11% (31.4 billion won) to 72.9 billion won.

By sector, the budget was allocated as follows: 128.6 billion won (19.24%) for environment, 112.4 billion won (16.83%) for social welfare, 78.5 billion won (11.75%) for agriculture, forestry, marine and fisheries, and 79.6 billion won (11.91%) for culture and tourism.

In particular, the budget for social welfare was increased by 14.3 billion won compared to the previous year, and the budget for culture and tourism was increased by 13.4 billion won, reflecting the county's efforts to enhance residents' welfare and advance as a tourism city.

Major new projects include: 2.5 billion won (provincial funds, conversion project) for the Bangdong Branch School tourism project; 4.3 billion won (regional balanced development special account) for the planned local tourism development project; 1.1 billion won (fund) for the creation of an eco-friendly waterfront space in the Salgumi District; 1.2 billion won (provincial funds, conversion project) for the restoration of the ecological stream in Wontongcheon; and 1.3 billion won (regional balanced development special account) for the construction of Rural Road No. 208 (Galwon Line) in Buk-myeon.

To achieve the county's goal of becoming a city that attracts 10 million tourists, the budget includes: 3 billion won for the Baekdudaegan Nature Stay Healing Center; 3.4 billion won for the Inje-type Smart Workation Center; 800 million won for the Soyang Lake Ecological Experience Center; and 500 million won for attracting an international motorsports competition. For station area development, the budget includes: 6.2 billion won for the east-west high-speed railway-linked regional development project (including road expansion for the Baekdam Line, construction of a pedestrian path from Manhae Village to the entrance of Baekdamsa Temple, and county-planned road construction in the Buk-myeon station area); 3 billion won for land acquisition for station area development; and 1.8 billion won for the Young Farmers' Rural Housing Project.

Additionally, to establish a robust welfare safety net, the budget includes: 22.7 billion won for basic pensions; 6.6 billion won for senior job creation and social activity support; 5.4 billion won for livelihood benefits; 3.5 billion won for basic childcare allowances; and 1.9 billion won for the construction of the Inje Regional Self-Sufficiency Center. To stabilize farm management, the budget also includes: 3 billion won for supporting the purchase of farming materials to reduce farm management costs; 2 billion won for supporting compound feed costs for livestock farmers; and 2.1 billion won for supporting the purchase of organic fertilizers.

For projects closely related to residents' daily lives, the budget includes: 12.5 billion won for the construction of the integrated water supply system for Seohwa and Cheondo; 3 billion won for the expansion of the water pipeline in Deokjeok and Garisan-ri, Inje-eup; and 2 billion won for the expansion of the water pipeline in Gwandae and Sinwol-ri, Nam-myeon. For projects closely related to resident safety, the budget includes: 10 billion won for the construction of county and rural roads; and 20.3 billion won (including 14.8 billion won from national and provincial funds) for the improvement of disaster-prone areas and the maintenance of flood-prone living zones.

This budget proposal is scheduled to be finalized in December after review by the Inje County Council.

Choi Sangki, Mayor of Inje County, stated, "Although resources are limited, we have strategically allocated the budget to ensure it is used where it is most needed. We will continue to reliably manage livelihood sectors such as welfare and social overhead capital, while also maintaining a balanced approach to tourism and station area projects that will serve as the foundation for Inje County's future."

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