Assemblywoman Jin-Sook Jeon’s "Gwangju Driver’s License Test Center Project" Gains Momentum

National Budget Increased by 6.4 Billion KRW for Next Year
Budget Review Successfully Passed

Assemblywoman Jin-Sook Jeon announced on December 4 that she successfully secured an increase of over 6.4 billion KRW in the 2026 national budget for the "Gwangju Driver’s License Test Center Construction Project," passing the budget review process.

Assemblywoman Jin-Sook Jeon. Photo provided by Assemblywoman Jin-Sook Jeon's office

With this national funding secured, the project has overcome the crisis of potential construction delays or downsizing of the test center due to budget shortages, allowing the Gwangju Driver’s License Test Center project to gain momentum.

The Gwangju Driver’s License Test Center project has been underway since 2022. However, a sharp rise in construction and material costs, along with amendments to the Construction Technology Promotion Act, made it impossible to proceed with the construction as planned using only the previously secured budget.

In fact, the Korea Road Traffic Authority had stated that the project could be temporarily suspended if additional funding was not secured.

Since last year’s general election, Assemblywoman Jeon has consistently worked to resolve the budget issue for the test center, a major local concern, and achieved the budget increase through close coordination with relevant ministries during the budget review process.

The 6.44 billion KRW budget increase secured by Assemblywoman Jeon for 2026 specifically includes 3.357 billion KRW for the construction cost shortfall, 2.433 billion KRW for supervision fees, and 650 million KRW for farmland preservation charges.

This allocation thoroughly reflects the essential costs required for the construction, ensuring the stable progress of the project.

Most notably, the key achievement of this budget increase is that it preserves the test center’s status and functionality as a "first-class site." With only the original budget, the construction cost shortfall would have forced the center to be downgraded to a "second-class driver’s license test center" with significantly reduced functions.

Assemblywoman Jeon persistently persuaded the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Assembly, securing the necessary construction and supervision funds, thereby enabling the advancement of a state-of-the-art "first-class driver’s license test center" that will provide the best services to Gwangju citizens.

Additionally, the budget includes 314.9 million KRW (increase) for the establishment and operation of the AI Gifted School affiliated with Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 71.3 million KRW (new) for the creation of the May 18 Old Cemetery Democracy Park, 500 million KRW (new) for wetland creation to improve the Yeongsan River’s ecological environment, and 100 million KRW (new) for the establishment of a Biennale Cultural Cluster.

Assemblywoman Jeon stated, “There was a risk that construction might stop even after breaking ground due to budget shortages, or that the first-class test center anticipated by citizens would be reduced to a second-class facility. After strongly emphasizing the need for a budget increase to government ministries, we were able to secure the funding necessary for the construction of a first-class center.”

She added, “I am very pleased to have secured the national budget needed to properly advance key local projects. I will continue to thoroughly oversee the project so that Gwangju citizens are no longer inconvenienced by having to travel to other regions for their tests, ensuring the completion of a well-equipped first-class test center.”

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