Mayor Lee Byungseon of Sokcho Visits Central Ministries in Full-Scale Effort to Secure National Funding and Resolve Key Issues

Meeting with Vice Minister Kim Minjae, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety Officials
Request for Administrative and Financial Support for Border Area Development Projects and Ssangcheon No. 1 Underground Dam Repair and Reinforcement

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province is making a final push to ensure the smooth implementation of border area development projects and secure national funding for key local initiatives.

Mayor Lee Byungseon met with Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, on the 21st to request that the border area development support projects currently being excavated by the city be reflected as much as possible in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's comprehensive development plan for border areas. Provided by Sokcho City

On the 21st, Mayor Lee Byungseon, relevant city officials, and the office of local National Assembly member Lee Yangsoo made a joint visit to central government ministries.

On this day, Mayor Lee met with Kim Minjae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to request that the border area development support projects currently being identified by the city be reflected as much as possible in the Ministry’s comprehensive development plan for border areas. He also called for administrative and financial support so that national funding for regional development can be smoothly allocated starting in 2027.

Additionally, he requested special allocation tax support totaling 7 billion won for five key local issues: expansion of the pressurized flotation tank at the Daepo Public Sewage Treatment Facility, installation of a soundproof wall at the park golf course, construction of a dormitory for workers at the Daepo Agro-Industrial Complex, improvements to the Bada Hyanggi-ro facilities, and the creation of a tennis court on the site of the former Seorak Training Center.

Mayor Lee Byung-sun met with Cha Sang-hwa, Director of Disaster Mitigation at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, on the 21st to request that the border area development support projects currently being excavated by the city be reflected as much as possible in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's comprehensive development plan for border areas. Provided by Sokcho City

Afterwards, he visited the Disaster Mitigation Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, where he strongly emphasized the need for national funding to repair and reinforce the underground cutoff wall of Ssangcheon No. 1 Underground Dam, in order to ensure a stable water supply in anticipation of a surge in visitors following the future opening of the East-West High-Speed Railway.

He also met with the Welfare and Safety Budget Officer at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and visited the Balanced Regional Development Division and the Special Allocation Tax Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, where he thoroughly discussed practical matters related to support for border area development projects and special allocation tax requests for local issues.

Mayor Lee Byungseon stated, "With Sokcho City designated as a border area and newly confirmed as a candidate for the Peace Economic Special Zone, we have seized an opportunity for change and advancement. I will do my utmost to ensure that key projects shaping Sokcho’s future are reflected in national plans and the government budget, so that they can lead to tangible results that citizens can truly feel."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.