Governor Lee Jae-myung Reports Supplementary Budget of 23.6 Trillion Won to Residents

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung reported the supplementary budget plan to residents.

At the first supplementary budget resident briefing held on the afternoon of the 16th, Governor Lee stated, "The seventh popular election term's 'New Gyeonggi Province' has been improving its structure and strengthening its foundation step by step over the past month and a half to establish itself as a new center of the Republic of Korea," and added, "The supplementary budget, which is the first result of keeping promises to residents, has been compiled rationally and efficiently with residents' rights and interests as the top priority."

The governor personally presenting the budget plan to residents is interpreted as demonstrating Governor Lee's commitment to implementing financial operations fairly in keeping promises with residents.

The scale of Gyeonggi Province's 2018 first supplementary budget announced by the governor on this day is 23.6 trillion won, an increase of 1.627 trillion won (7.4%) from the initial budget of 21.9765 trillion won.

It has been compiled as general accounts of 20.5933 trillion won and special accounts of 3.0102 trillion won.

The direction of this supplementary budget compilation has four major aspects.

First, a total of 369.1 billion won has been reflected for balanced development of the northeastern region and creating foundations for peaceful reunification.

The province will invest 126.6 billion won directly in infrastructure improvements such as roads for northeastern Gyeonggi, which has made unavoidable sacrifices for the capital region thus far.

This has been compiled at the largest scale in Gyeonggi Province's supplementary budget history in accordance with Governor Lee's will that special sacrifices require special compensation.

The province plans to concentrate administrative effort to prevent wasteful spending given the large-scale budget required, and will complete projects expeditiously.

Additionally, a total of 33.4 billion won has been allocated to inter-Korean cooperation funds, U.S. military-provided land alternative facility installation, and Imjingak Peace Nuuri integrated development in the peaceful reunification sector.

Through this, the province plans to create new economic momentum and solidly support the Moon Jae-in government's vision of a Korean Peninsula peace economic community.

Second, a safety budget of 58 billion won has been compiled to protect residents' survival rights from natural disasters and social emergencies.

Under Governor Lee's philosophy that protecting residents' lives and safety is Gyeonggi Province's top priority, the province plans to invest 15 billion won in this supplementary budget to strengthen fire safety.

Subsequently, fire response capabilities will be enhanced through establishing rapid fire truck dispatch systems and others, and efforts will be concentrated on ensuring safety of firefighting personnel and improving working conditions to guarantee residents' safety.

Along with this, 28.6 billion won has been allocated for livestock quarantine including AI and foot-and-mouth disease prevention. In particular, Gyeonggi Province has accepted the provincial assembly's recommendation to urgently support livestock farms in the province suffering from heat waves, and plans to provide emergency support of 820 million won from reserves on this day.

Additionally, the province plans to reduce various safety threats surrounding residents, including drought and heat wave damage prevention and support, poor regional public order, and fine dust issues.

Third, 69.6 billion won has been reflected as a regional economy activation budget for emergency support to traditional merchants, small business owners, and youth employment.

This includes 14.4 billion won for traditional market-related budgets such as parking environment improvements, 18 billion won for small business owner support, 19.5 billion won for youth employment fields including startup support, 17.7 billion won for small and medium enterprise promotion, and others.

Through this, the province plans to concentrate on creating an "Opportunity-equal Gyeonggi Province" where alley merchants and small business owners smile broadly and youth are given hope.

Worth noting among these is the 130 million won newly added in this supplementary budget for local currency operation and support. Local currency is a verified policy that revitalized Seongnam's alley shops, and the province plans to prepare thoroughly so that the local currency policy can take root throughout Gyeonggi Province in the second half of this year.

Finally, 132.7 billion won has been compiled for livelihood welfare closely related to residents' daily lives. This includes 59.5 billion won for infant and young child care sectors such as childcare fee support, expansion of childcare facilities, and improvement of childcare teacher treatment, 37.2 billion won for basic welfare-related sectors such as elderly long-term care facility benefit support and disability activity benefit support, and 36 billion won related to public medical and health care, and others.

In particular, the province has newly compiled 270 million won to automatically enroll all Gyeonggi Province youth in the military in injury insurance so they need not worry about injuries during military service, and plans to pursue small but detailed policies that provide real help to life, creating a "Gyeonggi Province worth living in" where living in Gyeonggi Province is a source of pride.

In closing the budget briefing to residents, Governor Lee Jae-myung stated, "Please directly observe and judge whether the servant you hired to work is being resourceful or giving his best," and showed firm resolve, saying, "We will not bend to any obstacle and will ensure that residents' authority and budget are used solely for residents."