GTX Project Budget Significantly Cut by Gyeonggi Province

Major policy projects under Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo appear to face significant challenges. The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Budget and Settlement Committee drastically reduced budgets for GTX line extensions and other key projects from the current administration's 5-year plan.

On the 15th, the Budget and Settlement Committee deliberated on the Province's second supplementary budget proposal (general account expenditure) and entirely eliminated the GTX additional line extension project funding that Governor Kim has been prioritizing.

On the 5th, the Province included 350 million won in project costs for GTX line extension in the second supplementary budget and submitted it to the 245th extraordinary session of the Provincial Assembly.

The Province plans to extend the 174-kilometer GTX line (including 28.5 kilometers of shared KTX line) to 240 kilometers, an extension of 70 kilometers. The Ilsan-Dongtan line (46.3 kilometers) would extend to Paju and Pyeongtaek; the Cheongnyangni-Songdo line (49.9 kilometers) to Guri and Namyangju; and the Uijeongbu-Geumjeong line (49.3 kilometers) to Yangju and Ansan.

However, as the Committee entirely reduced the project costs according to the Construction and Transportation Committee's deliberation plan, Governor Kim's promise to extend additional GTX lines appears unlikely to proceed.

Additionally, the Province's 132 million won budget for resolving TV reception problems timed with KBS Gyeonggi-Incheon Broadcasting Center's launch and 1.2 billion won for provincial administration and publicity planning projects were mostly reduced or eliminated.

The Province also planned to establish a lifelong education center within Paju English Village with 500 million won in funding, but the Budget and Settlement Committee eliminated the entire budget, emphasizing that coordination with the Provincial Office of Education had not been conducted.

The Committee also reduced or eliminated ▲1.482 billion won in Gyeonggi Tourism Organization funding (reduction) ▲1.3 billion won in Gyeonggi Culture Foundation funding (reduction) ▲1.444 billion won for Gyeonggi Youth Training Center village development (elimination) ▲500 million won for Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Center establishment (elimination).

Meanwhile, the Committee increased the Education Department's free school meal support budget (local government current subsidies) by 420 million won, raising school meal-related budgets by 7.422 billion won overall.

In addition, ▲5.714 billion won in childcare support for families with two or more children ▲7.888 billion won in basic livelihood guarantee housing assistance ▲1.043 billion won in livelihood assistance budget increased.

Notably, the 380 million won for full support of essential childhood vaccinations and the 1.168 billion won for national immunization projects under the Welfare and Women's Policy Bureau, which were entirely eliminated at the standing committee level, were partially restored at 228 million won and 708 million won respectively by the Budget and Settlement Committee.

Accordingly, the Budget and Settlement Committee reduced the Province's second supplementary budget proposal (general account expenditure) by 4.736 billion won and increased it by 8.681 billion won, with the total budget increasing from the original 14.444 trillion 556 million won to 14.483 trillion 587 million won.

Meanwhile, the supplementary budget is expected to take effect immediately if passed at the second plenary session of the 254th extraordinary session scheduled for the 19th.