Ansan City Secures KRW 313 Billion Through Competitive Bidding Projects… Shining Example of Sound Fiscal Management With Zero Municipal Bonds

Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Minguen) is presenting itself as a role model for sound and stable fiscal management without issuing municipal bonds, securing large-scale external funding through strategic responses to competitive bidding projects.

Ansan City Hall exterior view. Provided by Ansan City

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According to Ansan City on April 24, the city has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected for a total of 366 competitive bidding projects from 2022 to the present. Of the total project budget of approximately KRW 441.5 billion, external funding, including national and provincial subsidies, accounts for KRW 313 billion.

This means that about 70% of the total project budget has been raised externally, significantly reducing the city's own fiscal burden while securing strong momentum to rapidly implement large-scale priority projects.

This success was made possible by moving away from a passive approach and establishing a ‘proactive response system’ that analyzes central government policy trends in advance and develops project plans preemptively.

This strategy continues to yield results in 2026, with the city being consecutively selected for major competitive bidding projects.

Representative selections include: ▲ 2026 Youth Challenge Support Project (approx. KRW 1 billion) ▲ Commercial District Manager Project (KRW 470 million) ▲ 2026 Clean Air Package Support Project for Our Neighborhood (KRW 2 billion) ▲ Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation Educational Support Project for Youths of Migrant Background (KRW 130 million) ▲ Specialized Support Project for Lifelong Learning City for the Disabled (KRW 85 million) ▲ 2026 Advanced Industry Talent Bootcamp (AI) (KRW 7.2 billion) ▲ Public Sports Facility Renovation Support Project (KRW 2.8 billion), among others.

Additionally, the city is proactively preparing and awaiting results for initiatives such as the 2026 Environmental Education City, the 2027 Renewable Energy Convergence Support Project, the 2027 High-Precision Electronic Map Construction Project, and the Fishing Village Experience and Recreation Village Advancement Project.

These competitive bidding projects span all aspects of the city, including revitalization of local business districts, as well as youth, education, environment, welfare, sports, and advanced industries. They serve not only as a means of securing funding but also as a key tool for transforming the urban structure.

Based on the external resources secured, Ansan City is implementing projects across all sectors-industry, education, welfare, environment, and transportation-to lay the foundation for realizing the "Ansan Future Vision 2035."

In particular, by fostering cooperation among public institutions, schools, and businesses, and ensuring interdepartmental collaboration, Ansan is building an innovation ecosystem across the city and creating a virtuous cycle that translates the achievements of competitive bidding projects into tangible urban transformation.

By sector, the achievements in industry are especially notable. Ansan City is pursuing structural improvements for the aging Banwol and Sihwa industrial complexes through projects such as: ▲ Establishment of AX Demonstration Industrial Complex (KRW 28 billion) ▲ Industrial Complex Environmental Improvement (KRW 20 billion) ▲ Manufacturing Robot Plus (KRW 1.2 billion) ▲ Advanced Manufacturing Robot Demonstration (KRW 200 million), among others.

Additionally, the city is accelerating the creation of a future industrial ecosystem based on AI, robotics, and smart technologies through: ▲ Establishment of Robot Vocational Training Center (KRW 25.9 billion) ▲ Small Smart City Development Project (KRW 16 billion) ▲ Gyeonggi-do AI Challenge Program (KRW 300 million) ▲ Designation of a New Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone, and more. These initiatives serve as key drivers for transforming the existing industry structure centered on the Banwol and Sihwa complexes into a ‘Robot City’ focused on advanced technologies.

In the education and residential environment sector, projects such as: ▲ Construction of Integrated School Facilities (Wongok Elementary, Gyeongsu Elementary) (KRW 61 billion) ▲ Vocational Education Innovation Zone (KRW 1.8 billion) ▲ Autonomous Public High School 2.0 (KRW 2 billion) ▲ Gyeonggi Youth Space Support (KRW 1.5 billion), are strengthening the foundation of a residential city that integrates education, housing, and culture.

In the welfare and culture sector, projects with high public impact are expanding, including: ▲ Pilot Project for Integrated Support for Elderly Medical Care and Welfare (KRW 1 billion) ▲ Gyeonggi Sea Drone Festival Project (KRW 700 million) ▲ Local Character Development Project (KRW 500 million) ▲ GH Medical Welfare Social Contribution Project (KRW 400 million) ▲ Settlement Support Project for Overseas Koreans (KRW 400 million), among others.

In the transportation and environment sector, the city is pursuing both eco-friendly urban transformation and improvement of living conditions through projects such as: ▲ Our Neighborhood Clean Air Package Project (KRW 6 billion) ▲ Hydrogen City Creation Project (KRW 5 billion) ▲ Renewable Energy Convergence Support Project (KRW 2.5 billion) ▲ Safe Streetlight Plus Support Project (free installation of solar-powered streetlights), and more.

Ansan City's proactive administration has received widespread recognition. Results include the highest SA (Best) grade for pledge implementation evaluation, the Presidential Award for Crime Prevention, the Grand Prize for Excellence at the 8th Governance Local Politics Awards, the 2025 Customer Satisfaction Brand Grand Prize (Education City category), as well as various awards in administrative and AI innovation evaluations and the 2025 Local Diplomacy Best Practice Excellence Award.

Mayor Lee Minguen of Ansan stated, "Competitive bidding projects are a key tool for securing resources needed for urban development under limited fiscal conditions," adding, "We will continue to invest in key areas such as education, youth, and industry in a balanced manner to maintain fiscal soundness and create a 'happy Ansan' for citizens."

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