Paju City Sets Record 2.3 Trillion Won Budget for 2026, Accelerates Foundation for Million-Resident Self-Sufficient City
by Lee jonggu
Published 20 Nov.2025 08:30(KST)
Paju City Lays Groundwork for Economic Recovery and Future Growth Through Bold Fiscal Investment
2.3599 Trillion Won Budget Proposal Submitted to City Council, Up 207.2 Billion Won from Previous Year
Focus on Economic Recovery and Future Growth Through Direct Investment in Consumption Promotion and Social Overhead Capital
205.7 Billion Won Allocated for Road, Transportation, Cultural, and Sports Infrastructure
Mayor Kim Kyoungil: "We Will Prioritize Building Infrastructure for a Self-Sufficient City of One Million"
Paju City in Gyeonggi Province has announced its commitment to bold fiscal investment in 2026, unveiling its largest-ever main budget to date. The city will allocate 53.1 billion won for the Basic Livelihood Stability Support Fund, which functions as a form of basic income, and invest 205.7 billion won in the development of various road, transportation, cultural, and sports infrastructure, all aimed at economic recovery and laying the groundwork for future growth.
Paju City stated that it will submit its 2026 budget proposal, totaling 2.3599 trillion won, to the Paju City Council on the 20th, an increase of 207.2 billion won compared to 2025. This represents a 9.6% year-on-year increase, marking the largest budget in the city’s history.
Based on the general account, Paju City’s revenue budget consists of 511.7 billion won (26.1%) in self-generated revenue (local taxes and non-tax income), 315 billion won (16.1%) in local allocation tax, 160 billion won (8.1%) in adjustment grants, 829.2 billion won (42.2%) in national and provincial subsidies, and 146.7 billion won (7.5%) in compensatory income. National and provincial subsidies represent the largest share.
By expenditure sector, ‘social welfare’ accounts for the largest portion at 969.6 billion won (49.4%), followed by transportation and logistics at 170.8 billion won (8.7%), environment at 135.9 billion won (6.9%), and general public administration at 124.4 billion won (6.3%).
Despite challenging fiscal conditions due to a sluggish real estate market, weak domestic demand recovery, and ongoing uncertainties in both domestic and global economic environments, Paju City has focused on supporting livelihoods and the local economy through proactive fiscal management. Regarding the direction of the 2026 budget, the city explained that it is prioritizing stimulating consumption to revive domestic demand, establishing a foundation for citizens to lead basic lives, and focusing on developing various infrastructure in line with the city’s continued growth.
Additionally, in line with the goals for the second half of the 8th popularly elected administration-building a leading basic society, rapidly achieving the status of a self-sufficient city with a population of one million, and establishing the city as a cultural and eco-leisure hub in the Seoul metropolitan area-the city plans to enhance fiscal efficiency and maximize the use of available resources to drive active fiscal management.
First, the city has allocated 432.8 billion won to policy areas aimed at establishing a virtuous cycle in the local economy through consumption promotion and creating a basic society where all Paju citizens can enjoy happiness. The city plans to expand support for the Basic Livelihood Stability Support Fund, basic energy, basic housing, support for small business owners and SMEs, and the expansion of public care services to guarantee citizens’ basic livelihoods. Specifically, to stimulate local consumption, the city will provide 100,000 won per person as a Basic Livelihood Stability Support Fund, which functions as a basic income for Paju citizens. The city explained that it secured funding for this initiative by obtaining additional transfer resources such as allocation taxes, adopting a phased budget approach for large-scale projects, and improving the efficiency of fund management, thereby ensuring fiscal soundness. The breakdown is as follows: ▷Basic Livelihood Stability Support Fund 53.1 billion won ▷Support for issuance of local currency 10 billion won ▷Management fund support for small business owners and SMEs 6.4 billion won ▷Expansion of integrated care centers 5.2 billion won ▷Universal support for menstrual products for female adolescents 1.7 billion won ▷Basic transportation support for Paju youth 800 million won ▷Establishment of public renewable energy production bases 500 million won ▷Youth basic income 3.4 billion won ▷Opportunity income for artists, athletes, and farmers/fishers 7.1 billion won ▷Support for integrated cultural, sports, and tourism vouchers 6.1 billion won ▷Establishment of a win-win economic platform 700 million won ▷Support for childcare fees and child allowances 150.1 billion won ▷Support for Nuri Curriculum and related programs 22.3 billion won ▷Childcare support 7 billion won ▷Support for paternity leave allowance 500 million won ▷Support for care of people with developmental disabilities 11.5 billion won ▷Support for city buses and village buses 36.9 billion won ▷Support for The Gyeonggi Pass 10.5 billion won, among others.
Second, the city has allocated 132.4 billion won for urban infrastructure to facilitate future growth and the city’s rapid transition to a self-sufficient city with a population of one million. This includes the establishment of a people-centered public transportation system and the nurturing of future talent across the industrial, transportation, education, safety, and agricultural sectors. The breakdown is as follows: ▷Establishment of Free Economic Zone and Peace Economy Special Zone 1.8 billion won ▷Construction of administrative welfare centers in Unjeong 2, 4, 5, and 6-dong 32.6 billion won ▷(Tentative name) Gender Equality Cultural Space 8.6 billion won ▷Extension of the Seohae Line (Daegok~Sosa) to Paju 6.5 billion won ▷Expansion of access roads to Gamaksan Natural Recreation Forest and other roads 7.5 billion won ▷Education support including pilot projects for the Education Development Special Zone 32.3 billion won ▷(Tentative name) Construction of Intergenerational Integration Complex Center 6.5 billion won ▷Support for operation of 1,000-won taxis and Tokbus 9.1 billion won ▷Operation of Paju-style student-only school shuttle buses 2.6 billion won ▷Maintenance of Yulgok natural disaster risk improvement districts 10 billion won ▷Construction of Local Food Complex Center 1.2 billion won.
Third, to develop tourism resources where culture, history, and nature coexist, satisfy citizens’ diverse cultural needs, and expand sports facilities, the city has allocated 72.8 billion won, aiming to make Paju a cultural and eco-leisure hub in the metropolitan area where people want to live and visit. The breakdown is as follows: ▷Establishment of the basic plan for Imjingang National Garden 400 million won ▷Expansion of sports facilities including Bandabi and child-friendly sports centers 12.6 billion won ▷Establishment of river movement systems in the Munsan area 1.5 billion won ▷Support for operation of Paju Citizen Football Club 5 billion won ▷Construction of a skywalk at the upper station of the Imjingang gondola 3.3 billion won ▷Establishment of Family Art Camping Peace Village 4.5 billion won ▷Operation of Paju Cultural Foundation 5.4 billion won ▷Maintenance of national heritage sites such as Heo Jun’s tomb and Hyeumwonji 3.3 billion won ▷Strengthening barrier-free tourism connectivity 3 billion won ▷Establishment of Beopwon Cultural Park 2.4 billion won ▷Maintenance and management of parks and green spaces/facilities 10.8 billion won.
In addition to these three core investment areas, the city will focus on improving citizens’ quality of life by carefully allocating limited resources to welfare for the vulnerable, responses to low birth rates and an aging population, strengthening the social safety net, and creating safe road environments.
Furthermore, to ensure citizens’ right to know about the budget, expand public participation in policy decision-making, and enhance the transparency and accountability of local finances, the 2026 main budget will be released through the Paju City website.
Paju Mayor Kim Kyoungil stated, "What Paju City needs now is to pave the way for economic recovery and future growth, so we have focused the budget on supporting citizens’ basic livelihoods and constructing the infrastructure necessary for our growing city. We will make sure that not a single precious tax won contributed by our citizens is wasted, and by maximizing the effectiveness of our limited resources, we will mobilize all fiscal capabilities available to local government to deliver policies that the 540,000 citizens of Paju truly need."
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