Dongducheon City Sets 2026 Budget at 604 Billion Won, Focusing on Livelihoods, Welfare, and Future Growth

Mayor Park Hyungdeok: "Focusing on Livelihoods, Welfare, and Future Growth Rather Than Excessively Expanding the Fiscal Scale"
Selection and Concentration on Livelihoods, Living SOC, Tourism, Welfare, and Education... Budget Proposal Submitted to City Council

Dongducheon City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Park Hyungdeok) has drawn up a total budget of 604 billion won for 2026 and submitted it to the 342nd regular session of the Dongducheon City Council.

A panoramic view of Dongducheon City Hall. Provided by Dongducheon City.

This represents a decrease of 4.2 billion won compared to the 2025 budget of 608.2 billion won. Despite uncertain fiscal conditions, the city has allocated resources boldly to stabilize livelihoods and invest in future growth foundations, while reducing unnecessary expenditures, following a "selection and concentration" approach in budget planning.

In his policy address, Mayor Park Hyungdeok stated, "Despite challenges such as the downturn in domestic demand and reductions in local allocation and adjustment grants, we have focused the budget on improving infrastructure that citizens can feel in their daily lives, as well as expanding welfare, education, and future growth foundations. We will significantly reduce non-essential spending and make bold investments where truly needed to enhance fiscal efficiency."

To overcome the limitations of being a border area, the city has made every effort to secure national and provincial funding. As a result, it secured 191.8 billion won in 2025 alone and a total of 359.8 billion won in national and provincial funds over three and a half years of the 8th popularly elected administration, thereby laying the foundation for maintaining fiscal soundness. Regarding the city’s most pressing issue, the unrecovered U.S. military base land, Dongducheon plans to recalculate the scale of damages and continue consultations with central government ministries and Gyeonggi Province to ensure adequate national compensation for security-related sacrifices.

The 2026 budget proposal focuses on five strategic areas: ▲Strengthening the foundation for a self-reliant economic city ▲Expanding a safe and pleasant urban environment and living SOC (social overhead capital) ▲Expanding the three tourism axes connecting Soyo Mountain, Wangbang Mountain, and Sincheon areas ▲Providing customized welfare and support for veterans and vulnerable groups throughout the life cycle ▲Investing in education and talent development for future generations.

First, to solidify the foundation of a self-reliant economic city, the city has allocated 800 million won for special guarantees and commission contributions for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners, and 2 billion won for the operation of the Yangpo-dong Global Textile Fashion Special Zone and the Beautiful Street Plus Project in the industrial complex to support corporate growth engines. In addition, 18 billion won will be invested in job support projects for vulnerable groups to lay the groundwork for job creation. The city also plans to continue supporting projects to revitalize traditional markets and expand the use of local currency to help restore the livelihood economy.

Second, for improving living SOC and the urban environment, the city has allocated 10.3 billion won for infrastructure in small-scale housing maintenance management areas, 7 billion won for the Sori Eum Madang project, and 4 billion won for the Saengjungye Live Platform. For road improvements, 3 billion won will be invested in the expansion and paving of National Road No. 3 (Songnae-dong), 1.8 billion won for the road expansion between Wangbang Village Gallagyo and the Provincial Hospital, and 500 million won for the connection project between Jihaeng-dong and the city center bypass. New projects include 1 billion won for the Saengyeon Gongyounuri Community Shelter (parking lot) and 300 million won for the Eosu-ro parking lot to improve parking conditions in the old downtown area.

Third, the city will expand the three tourism axes connecting Dongducheon’s natural resources: Soyo Mountain, Wangbang Mountain, and Sincheon. The city will continue to promote the expansion and development of Soyo Mountain, including 900 million won for the Soyo Mountain Park Golf Course, 1.9 billion won for the Pet Theme Park, and 400 million won for the Sports Culture Street entrance road. Additionally, 3.4 billion won will be allocated to create the Wangbang Mountain Forest Trail and a walking path connecting the Wangbang Valley to the Forest Welfare Complex, establishing a trail from Tapdonggyo to the Forest Welfare Complex and expanding tourism resources in the Wangbang Mountain area. Once the Sincheon waterfront space is completed, the city plans to transform Sincheon into a representative tourism and cultural space for Dongducheon through various festivals.

Fourth, the welfare sector is set at about 47% of the total budget, strengthening customized welfare across all life stages. The city has allocated 73.4 billion won for the basic pension, 15.5 billion won for infant care and child-rearing support, 3.7 billion won for child allowances, 31.8 billion won for livelihood benefits, and 14.1 billion won for disability pensions and activity support benefits. In addition to the existing Korean War veterans’ honor allowance, a new honor allowance for Vietnam War veterans will be introduced to enhance respect for veterans. The budget also includes support for senior citizen bathing expenses, expanded transportation subsidies for seniors to cover all metropolitan public transport, funding for the new Dongducheon Child Protection Agency, and operating expenses for the Senior Citizens’ Center and the Disability Center, both of which will open this year.

Fifth, under the principle that "Dongducheon thrives when education thrives," the city has set aside 15 billion won for the 2026 education budget. To operate the Education Development Special Zone pilot and leading areas, 3.4 billion won has been allocated, including 1.6 billion won in special grants, to support SW/AI leading schools, self-directed learning centers, and the Gyeonggi RISE-linked project. The Global Talent Education Center will work in cooperation with the first-floor All Together Care Center and the Korean Language School, aiming to develop into a key hub in northern Gyeonggi that provides after-school care for elementary students outside school, intensive Korean language education, and global competency training.

Mayor Park Hyungdeok stated, "The 2026 budget proposal is focused on livelihoods, welfare, education, and future growth while maintaining fiscal soundness rather than excessively increasing the budget size. We will do our utmost to ensure the budget is executed in a timely manner so that citizens can experience a changed Dongducheon in their daily lives."

Meanwhile, Dongducheon City has also submitted a 2026 fund management plan totaling 249.2 billion won along with the 2026 budget proposal. The 2026 budget and fund management plan will be reviewed by the Budget and Accounts Committee of the Dongducheon City Council from December 1 and are scheduled to be approved at the plenary session on December 16.

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