Budget rises 76.4 billion won, or 11.28%, from this year; general account at 726.6 billion won, special account at 26.8 billion won
Urban infrastructure allocated 114.1 billion won, social welfare 321 billion won; investment expanded in local economy, education and culture
District to support international business district and electronics market development, build new public library
Seoul's Yongsan-gu has drawn up a 753.4 billion won ($565 million) budget proposal for 2027.
The figure represents a 76.4 billion won increase, or 11.28%, from this year, with funds concentrated on urban development, expansion of basic infrastructure, and stronger welfare and education services.
Yongsan-gu said it finalized the 2027 project budget and submitted it to the Yongsan-gu Council on Tuesday. The general account stands at 726.6 billion won and the special account at 26.8 billion won.
The budget focuses on building a foundation for urban growth and improving residents' living environment — with particular emphasis on urban development, creating a safer living environment, revitalizing the local economy and culture and sports, and strengthening lifecycle welfare and education.
The urban infrastructure and environment sector received an allocation of 114.1 billion won. The district will spend 200 million won on a district-unit planning review for the electronics market district and the area around Samgakji Station, 600 million won on establishing a redevelopment improvement plan for residential redevelopment projects, and 55 million won on a preliminary review of redevelopment candidate sites. An additional 2.1 billion won has been set aside for park construction and maintenance.
The district also plans to cultivate commercial districts that reflect local character. It has allocated 300 million won for an integrated local brand design project, 900 million won to build a temporary public parking lot in the international business district, and 960 million won to operate shuttle buses for cultural facilities.
To improve pedestrian safety, the district has set aside 990 million won to install road heating systems in areas prone to snow and ice in winter, 4.7 billion won for road and sidewalk maintenance, and 400 million won to improve pedestrian conditions in alleyways. Waste management received 40.9 billion won, while sewage facilities and stormwater drain repair and dredging were allocated 5.8 billion won.
The local economy and culture and tourism sectors will receive 3.9 billion won and 23.8 billion won, respectively. To support small businesses and neighborhood commercial districts, the district has allocated 2.5 billion won for issuing and operating Yongsan Love gift certificates and Yongsan public online food delivery gift certificates. It set aside 320 million won for facility improvements and event support at traditional markets and neighborhood shopping streets, and 120 million won for professional staffing support at traditional markets. Another 280 million won will go toward building neighborhood commercial communities and creating specialty streets.
The district is also moving to expand cultural infrastructure. It has allocated 2.6 billion won to build a public library beneath Beodeulgae Cultural Park and 67 million won to operate the Yongsan Youth Culture Pass. The Yongsan Cultural Foundation will receive 3 billion won in operating funds.
In sports, 390 million won will be spent on hosting the district residents' sports festival. The district has allocated 7.5 billion won to operate public sports facilities — including the Yongsan-gu Culture and Sports Center, a screen park golf course, and the swimming pool at Itaewon Elementary School — and 490 million won for the maintenance and expansion of community sports facilities.
The social welfare budget totals 321 billion won, accounting for about 42.6% of the overall budget. The allocation is intended to address welfare needs across all stages of life — from infants to the elderly — and to strengthen support for vulnerable groups.
Key program allocations include 14 billion won for parental allowances, 14.8 billion won for infant and toddler childcare fees, 11.4 billion won for child allowances, and 2.5 billion won in child-welcoming support grants. Livelihood and housing benefits will receive 73.9 billion won. Disability activity support benefits were allocated 11 billion won, the basic pension 63.5 billion won, and senior center activation and support 4.1 billion won.
Community welfare center operations received 490 million won, while youth centers and youth culture houses were allocated 5.5 billion won.
The education budget stands at 10.8 billion won. The district has set aside 4 billion won to support school education programs and improvements to the learning environment, 480 million won to operate the Yongsan Global Education Support Center, and 460 million won to run native-speaker foreign language classrooms. An additional 370 million won will go toward operating a career and vocational experience support center to help students explore career paths and build skills.
The budget proposal is set to be finalized on Dec. 16 after review at the second regular session of the 311th Yongsan-gu Council.
Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said the district "did not miss the investments needed in welfare, education, local economic revitalization and creating a safe living environment, all while maintaining a sound fiscal stance." He added that the district would "raise residents' quality of life and lay the groundwork for Yongsan's future growth through swift urban development and the expansion of everyday infrastructure."
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