Seoul City Announces 2.8 Trillion Won Supplementary Budget for Housing Stabilization and Youth AI Access Rights

Submitted to City Council on August 10, Quick Execution for Tangible Change
Expansion of Autonomous Vehicle Pilots, Promotion of Electric Vehicle Use
Support for Young People and Pregnant Women, Upgrades to Aging Safety Infrastructure

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has drafted its second supplementary budget for this year in order to support the livelihoods and housing of vulnerable groups, invest in future industries such as autonomous driving and electric vehicles, and build safety infrastructure. Of the total 2.8061 trillion won supplementary budget, the amount available for actual use, after excluding legally mandated expenses, is 810 billion won.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Yonhap News Agency 2026.8.6

On August 10, Seoul city officials held a press briefing at Seoul City Hall and announced, "We have prepared the second supplementary budget bill for 2026, and today we will submit it to the Seoul Metropolitan Council and request its review." If passed as proposed, the size of this supplementary budget is 2.8061 trillion won, bringing the city's total 2026 budget to 56.5735 trillion won. The first supplementary budget, set in April, focused on lowering living costs and providing emergency relief to small business owners in response to instability in the Middle East and high oil prices.

Lee Dong Ryul, acting director-general of Policy Planning for Seoul City, explained, "This supplementary budget not only ensures the smooth allocation of legally mandated expenditures related to the fiscal settlement, but also includes investments to support young people and vulnerable groups and to promote future growth engines." Priority is given to legally mandated expenditures such as subsidies for the board of education and district offices, as well as matching national subsidized projects that are deemed essential within the year, while limited available funds are focused on supporting livelihoods, driving future growth, and strengthening public safety.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has allocated a total of 810 billion won for the recovery of citizens' livelihoods and securing growth engines. By sector, the amounts are: ▲Inclusive Seoul (welfare and housing) at 409.7 billion won; ▲Growing Seoul (youth and future industries) at 231.9 billion won; ▲Livable Seoul (public safety, childcare, and health) at 168.4 billion won; making up three major investment areas.

First, the city will expand livelihood (85.7 billion won) and medical aid (136.5 billion won) to reflect the increased number of recipients due to the rise in the median income level this year. It will also work to improve essential medical services for the local community, including the remodeling of Eunpyung Hospital (4.8 billion won) and the expansion of Seonam Hospital (7.6 billion won). For the purchase of public rental housing near subway stations to ensure housing stability for homeless citizens, 13 billion won will be allocated. Additionally, 44 billion won is set aside for housing subsidies for households with incomes at or below 48 percent of the median income.

The city will also invest in future industries and strengthen young people's capacity to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, laying a new foundation for growth. Five hundred million won will be spent to increase the number of autonomous taxis operating at night in Gangnam from three last year to nineteen this year. To support electric vehicle purchases and expand fast chargers for electric buses, 40.3 billion won has been allocated.

To enhance competitiveness in employment and entrepreneurship, the city will provide 50 billion won to offer one-year advanced generative AI usage rights (such as for coding and agent tools) to 500,000 young people. The supplementary budget will also be used for supporting brokerage commissions and moving expenses for young people (600 million won), as well as for supporting isolated and withdrawn youths (400 million won). As part of efforts to revitalize the nighttime economy, the city plans to issue Dalbit gift certificates (1.1 billion won), hold the Namsan Night Festival (300 million won), develop the Namsan Firefly Garden (200 million won), and support the Unhyeongung Palace nighttime cultural program (200 million won).

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is attentively listening to the remarks of participants at the "Citizen Grand Debate for Real Estate Normalization" held at Seoul City Hall on August 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also expand support for building and upgrading infrastructure such as flood prevention and aging transportation facilities to safeguard citizens and further establish the city as a family-friendly metropolis. For example, it will facilitate the completion of rainwater pumping stations in Yangjae, Yeongdeungpo, and Geumho (7.2 billion won) to create a safer living environment. The city will allocate 17.7 billion won for the replacement of 368 aging subway cars on Lines 6 and 7. Additionally, the city will increase support for medical expenses for pregnant women over the age of 35 (4.1 billion won) and infertility treatments (9.7 billion won).

Acting director Lee added, "We will faithfully implement support for vulnerable groups, investments in youth and new industries, and expansion of safety infrastructure, and will execute the budget promptly after approval by the city council so that citizens can quickly feel the changes."

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