18 projects chosen from 104 proposals, reflecting direct resident input in budget planning
Safety-focused lifestyle projects include children's park upgrades and aging stairway repairs
Yongsan-gu in Seoul finalized 18 projects totaling 1 billion won ($722,000) for its 2027 resident participatory budget on Aug. 12.
The public call for project proposals ran from March through April this year, drawing 104 submissions. The district reviewed each proposal for feasibility through the relevant departments before forwarding 18 projects to the Resident Participatory Budget Committee. Resident budget committee members elected from each dong then evaluated the submissions across three subcommittees — administrative health, cultural city, and welfare and construction — before finalizing the selected projects.
The final list includes renovations to Sinchang-dong Children's Park in Wonhyo-ro 2-dong, repairs to aging stairways in Cheongpa-dong, and the installation of pedestrian guidance sign blocks along the route to Hyochang Park in Hyochang-dong. The projects are designed to improve resident safety and address everyday inconveniences through practical, community-focused improvements.
The selected projects, along with resident feedback gathered by the budget committee members, will be forwarded to the relevant departments and incorporated into the 2027 project budget proposal to be submitted to the Yongsan-gu Council.
"The 18 projects selected this time are a meaningful outcome in which residents' voices have been reflected in the actual budget," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said. "Through 1 billion won in resident participatory budget funding, we will push forward with practical, everyday projects that residents can truly feel, and we will continue to strengthen resident-centered fiscal management by staying in close communication with the community."
The resident participatory budget system allows residents to participate directly in the budget planning process, enhancing transparency and democratic accountability in fiscal management. Last year, Yongsan-gu selected projects totaling 900 million won under the same program, continuing its track record of resident-centered fiscal outcomes through practical, community-focused initiatives.
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