Total budget for this year set at 1.09 trillion won, up 28 billion won from the original — welfare payments secured first, with focused investment in public safety, local commerce, youth and education
Gangbuk-gu in Seoul announced Tuesday that its second supplementary budget for this year had been finalized following approval by the Gangbuk-gu Council.
The supplementary budget raises total spending by 28 billion won ($20.8 million), or 2.6 percent, from the original 1.06 trillion won to 1.09 trillion won. The district said it prioritized securing essential expenditures — including welfare payments — that must be met before year's end, while also directing funds toward public safety, local commercial recovery, and future-oriented areas such as youth support and education.
In the welfare category, 1.5 billion won has been set aside to ensure stable year-end payments for basic livelihood support and benefits for elderly and disabled residents.
Alongside this, 730 single-parent households will each receive 50,000 won ($37) in winter heating assistance, and 105 senior community centers will receive an additional monthly food subsidy of 50,000 won each.
The public safety category will receive 600 million won for road and sidewalk maintenance, 200 million won for smart security lighting in alleyways, 170 million won for road heating cables, and 160 million won for children's pedestrian safety markings. The district said it plans to improve road and walking environments closely tied to residents' daily lives and to prevent accidents caused by winter icing.
Support for local commercial recovery will also be expanded. The second-half issuance of Gangbuk Love Gift Certificates will increase by 5 billion won — from 10 billion won to 15 billion won — with cashback incentives to stimulate spending within the district.
An additional 1.5 billion won will be issued in Gangbuk public delivery gift certificates. The move aims to ease the burden of third-party delivery platform commission fees on small business owners while offering residents a 10 percent discount to encourage local spending.
The district will also pursue a range of initiatives to boost the competitiveness and convenience of local commercial areas, including programs to nurture alley-market communities, maintenance of fire-alert systems at traditional markets, and installation of an outdoor digital display board at Jangmiwon Alley Market.
Funds have also been allocated to youth and education. Some 60 million won has been set aside for the 'Gangbuk Youth Better Tomorrow Support Project,' which provides 300,000 won per person to 200 unemployed young residents, to support job-seeking and employment preparation.
Some 80 million won each will go toward developing Gangbuk-gu's education advancement plan and a long-term library development plan, laying the groundwork for policy initiatives tailored to local conditions. An additional 100 million won has been budgeted to establish a long-term district administration development plan for the current elected term, spelling out the direction and blueprint for district governance over the next four years.
"This supplementary budget is the first we have drawn up since the launch of the current elected administration, and we made sure to reflect essential fiscal needs first — including welfare payments for elderly and low-income residents," District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said. "We focused our limited resources on strengthening public safety, reviving the local economy, and investing in Gangbuk's future." He added that, with the budget now finalized through council approval, the district would push ahead with all related projects without delay and execute spending swiftly so that residents can feel the difference.
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