Seoul's Eunpyeong-gu district office said it will hold a public vote from Monday through Sept. 4 to select projects for its 2026 participatory budget program, which will be implemented in 2027.
A total of 42 projects drawn from resident proposals are on the ballot. Any Eunpyeong-gu resident aged 9 or older may participate by voting online through the district's participatory budget website. Residents who have difficulty voting online can cast ballots in person at polling stations set up at the district office and each neighborhood community center.
The vote is divided into three categories: general, youth and young adult projects.
The general vote covers 31 projects organized under five policy themes — strengthening lifecycle care, promoting culture, sports and health, maintaining clean and healthy parks and waterways, building a safe and comfortable urban infrastructure, and boosting civic participation and the local economy — with voters choosing one project per theme.
This year, the district introduced a "Youth Participatory Budget Proposal Contest" for the first time to broaden young people's involvement in policy. Seven youth projects were put forward as a result: media literacy education, a village history travel program, a youth exchange program, practical financial literacy education, and three others. Residents between the ages of 9 and 24 may vote for two of the seven projects.
Four young adult projects are also on the ballot: an integrated job-preparation support program, a youth economics school, a youth health-connection project and a self-directed experience-based independence support program. Eunpyeong-gu residents between the ages of 19 and 39 are eligible to vote in this category.
The final results will be announced at a residents' assembly to be held at Eunpyeong Multipurpose Gymnasium on Sept. 12.
District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said the district established the youth participatory budget contest this year to create a foundation for reflecting young people's diverse opinions in budget planning. "Participatory budgeting is a system in which residents directly decide what projects their community needs, so I hope as many residents as possible will take part," she said.
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