Jangheung County Mayor Sa Soon-moon has been actively visiting central government ministries to secure national funding for local projects ahead of next year's government budget review.
From October 26 to 27, Mayor Sa visited four ministries, including the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He explained key projects totaling 533.7 billion won and requested the inclusion of 47.3 billion won in the national budget, according to a statement released on October 28.
The visits aimed to enhance the likelihood of national funding for major projects during the National Assembly's budget review process and to secure administrative and financial support necessary for resolving local issues through discussions with central ministries.
At the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Mayor Sa met with Budget Office Director Kim Myung-jung, Budget Coordination Officer Park Chang-hwan, and Economic Budget Officer Kim Tae-gon to request funding for the 'AI Convergence Arts and Culture Creation Center Project (Papillon zip)' and the detailed design costs for the expansion of National Route 23 from Daedeok Yeonji to Sunji.
The expansion of National Route 23 is a critical issue for improving local traffic conditions and accessibility, and securing the detailed design costs is expected to impact the project's timeline.
During his visit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mayor Sa discussed ways to revitalize the Korea Sports Talent Development Center with Second Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun.
He also requested policy advice regarding the development of a 72-hole park golf course in Jangheung County and urged government cooperation to ensure that the expansion of sports facilities leads to increased sports tourism and revitalization of the local economy.
At the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Mayor Sa focused on infrastructure improvements and disaster prevention projects that directly affect residents' lives.
He met with Director Jeong Jong-hoon of the Local Finance Bureau and Director Kim Yong-kyun of the Natural Disaster Bureau to request special grants for the second half of the year for projects such as creating a future-oriented AI experience space for children and the construction of the Ye-yang Bridge, which provides access to the Jangheung Saturday Market.
Additionally, he emphasized the urgent need for support to ensure resident safety by addressing the risks associated with wastewater discharge facilities in food complexes and replacing aging elevators at the Jeongnamjin Jangheung Saturday Market.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Mayor Sa met with Kim Jeong-wook, Director of Agricultural Industry Innovation Policy, to request the selection of a basic income project for rural areas. He stressed the importance of this initiative for stabilizing the livelihoods of rural residents and stimulating local consumption.
Following these visits, Jangheung County plans to continue discussions with each ministry and consistently explain the necessity and urgency of key projects during the National Assembly's budget review process.
However, the requested 47.3 billion won is not yet confirmed funding, and the outcomes of the government's and National Assembly's reviews will be crucial for the actual implementation of these projects.
Mayor Sa stated, "Close cooperation with central ministries and the inclusion of our projects in the government budget are essential for the smooth advancement of local issues. We will actively respond to ensure that projects aimed at the development of the county and the improvement of residents' quality of life lead to tangible results."
Meanwhile, Jangheung County plans to continue discussions to secure special grants for the second half of the year and to seek policy support for major projects, particularly focusing on the expansion of national roads, cultural and sports infrastructure, and resident safety initiatives.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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