Geochang County Sets 2026 Budget at 831.3 Billion Won, Up 29.7 Billion Won, and Submits to County Council

Focusing on Major Projects such as the Geochang Crematorium
to Develop as a Central City in Western South Gyeongsang Province

Geochang County, South Gyeongsang Province, announced on November 27 that it has submitted its proposed 2026 budget to the county council, setting the general account at 774.1 billion won and the special account at 57.2 billion won. This brings the total budget to 831.3 billion won, an increase of 29.7 billion won (3.7%) compared to this year.

Amid ongoing uncertainty in national tax trends, the county has expanded its financial resources through bold expenditure restructuring, including reallocating spending, reviewing carryover budgets, and adjusting budget timing according to project progress. Geochang County has also maintained its debt-free, sound fiscal policy since 2014, and reflected its commitment to regional economic growth and revitalization in next year’s main budget.

In particular, the county has focused on expanding public facilities to improve the quality of life for residents and on revitalizing the region. Key priorities include the construction of the Geochang crematorium and the Geochang-type medical welfare town, developing Geochang as a hub for education, administration, culture, tourism, and agriculture in western South Gyeongsang Province, creating a city where everyone wants to live, easing the childcare burden for families with children aged 0 to 12, and promoting the 2026 Year of Visiting Geochang.

Geochang County Office Exterior View

Next year’s general account expenditures by sector are allocated as follows: 186.3 billion won (24.08%) for social welfare; 162.6 billion won (21.01%) for agriculture, forestry, maritime affairs, and fisheries; 70.8 billion won (9.15%) for general public administration; 68.7 billion won (8.89%) for environment; 53.3 billion won (6.89%) for land and regional development; and 40.2 billion won (5.20%) for culture and tourism.

For social welfare, the county has allocated 186.4 billion won to ensure comprehensive care and universal welfare, including 2.4 billion won for the Youth Dream Voucher Program, 1.7 billion won for public job creation projects, 18.3 billion won for basic living support, 2.1 billion won for child care support, and 4.6 billion won for infant and toddler care subsidies. In the agriculture and forestry sector, 162.6 billion won will be invested to strengthen future agricultural competitiveness and create a greener city, including 4.7 billion won for subsidies to farmers and fishers, 1 billion won for vouchers for female farmers, 19.6 billion won for basic public direct payments, 5.4 billion won for crop disaster insurance support, 3.5 billion won for wildfire prevention, and 1.2 billion won for street tree creation and management.

In the general public administration sector, 70.8 billion won is allocated to support robust population policies, including 6.8 billion won for the medical welfare town, 5 billion won for the construction of public postpartum care centers and a cancer center, 400 million won for the public seasonal worker program, 800 million won for building dormitories for agricultural workers, 1.9 billion won for childbirth support, 1.9 billion won for low birthrate countermeasures, and 1.2 billion won for relocation support. The environment sector reflects 6.87 billion won to build a balanced urban environment, including 1 billion won for the Geochang Changpowon Garden Industry Expo, 2.2 billion won for electric vehicle supply and infrastructure, 2.8 billion won for incineration facility improvement, and 3.9 billion won for the Geochang Changpowon Ecotourism and Cultural Complex Project.

The land and regional development sector has allocated 53.3 billion won to systematically expand key infrastructure for future growth, including 20.7 billion won for crematorium construction, 3.8 billion won for the creation of residential hubs for regional revitalization, 1.6 billion won for climate zone urban forest creation, 1 billion won for urban wind corridor forest projects, and 1.8 billion won for the Gimcheon District urban regeneration project. In the culture and tourism sector, 4.02 billion won will be invested to further develop Geochang as a vibrant city where culture, tourism, and sports are harmonized, including 700 million won for the 2026 Year of Visiting Geochang, 1.6 billion won for maintenance projects in preparation for the 2027 Provincial Sports Festival, 1.7 billion won for the Deogyusan Dulle-gil Trail, and 1.4 billion won for the Suseungdae Night Tourism Infrastructure Project.

In the industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, and energy sector, the county aims to boost the local economy by supporting small business owners and fostering strategic projects, allocating 5 billion won for the creation of an advanced general industrial complex, 2.2 billion won to support the issuance of local gift certificates, 1.1 billion won for small business support, 2.5 billion won for new and renewable energy convergence support, and 800 million won to expand city gas supply to detached housing areas, totaling 19.7 billion won. In the transportation and logistics sector, 2.15 billion won is allocated to expand transportation infrastructure, including 1.5 billion won for rural road expansion and paving and 1 billion won for the creation of small-scale communal parking lots.

The health sector is allocated 11.1 billion won to strengthen customized medical services, including 100 million won to support the recruitment of senior doctors and 700 million won for nighttime and holiday pediatric care (Dalbit Children’s Hospital). The education sector will receive 8.6 billion won to further enhance Geochang’s status as an educational city, including 2 billion won for the construction of educational complex facilities and 2.5 billion won for the educational development special zone. For public order and safety, 1.18 billion won is allocated, including 2 billion won for the comprehensive disaster prevention project in the Yanggi and Eumgi districts, 600 million won for small-scale disaster response, and 1.2 billion won for the operation of the integrated CCTV control center, to create a safer Geochang where residents can feel secure.

Additionally, Geochang County plans to invest a total of 41.6 billion won in 28 projects to actively respond to the climate crisis and open a sustainable future for local agriculture, including the creation of a smart agriculture promotion zone and the expansion of smart apple orchards. Through these efforts, the county aims to build a climate-resilient agricultural production system and establish a future-oriented agricultural foundation where advanced technology and eco-friendly farming methods are harmonized.

County Governor Koo Inmo stated, "The 2026 budget focuses on completing ongoing projects without setbacks and improving the quality of projects currently underway," adding, "We expect this budget to further enhance the quality of life for residents and serve as a key fiscal driver for our county to lead the nation, laying the foundation for a vibrant and dynamic Geochang and ushering in an era of happiness for our residents."

Meanwhile, the 2026 budget bill will be reviewed, resolved, and finalized at the 290th regular session of the Geochang County Council, which will be held starting December 5.

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