Guri City Pursues 22% Water and 32% Sewage Rate Hikes Next Year

Water rates to be adjusted for the first time in 22 years

Funding to upgrade aging facilities secured

Spokesperson Lee Dohwan announces public institution appointments

City Hall parking improvements also outlined

Guri City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Shin Donghwa), is pursuing a plan to raise water rates by an average of 22% and sewage rates by an average of 32% starting in January next year. This will be the first adjustment to water rates in 22 years.

Lee Dohwan, spokesperson for Guri City, is holding a press briefing in the conference room of the Women's Happiness Center on the 22nd, explaining key issues including adjustments to water and sewage rates, appointments of heads of public institutions, and improvements to parking at City Hall.

Lee Dohwan, spokesperson for Guri City, held a press briefing in the main conference room of the Women's Happiness Center on the 22nd, explaining key issues including water and sewage rate adjustments, appointments of heads of public institutions, and improvements to parking at City Hall.

The city has given advance notice of proposed amendments to the relevant ordinances to improve the financial soundness of its water and sewage services and secure funding to upgrade aging facilities. Under the proposed amendments, the first-tier household water rate would rise from 480 won to 620 won per cubic meter, while the sewage rate would increase from 658 won to 870 won. The city plans to freeze sewage rates for a certain period after the increase.

“Adjusting water and sewage rates to reflect actual costs is a measure to improve aging facilities and provide residents with safe and reliable services,” Lee said. “We will also work to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs to minimize the burden on residents.”

Lee also announced the results of appointments to head public institutions. Following personnel hearings at the city council, the city appointed Lee Seungwoo, former president of Incheon Urban Corporation, as the fifth president of Guri Urban Corporation on the 19th, and Kwon Bongsu, former chair of the Guri City Council, as the 13th president of Guri Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation on the 21st.

Guri Urban Corporation will focus on urban development and the operation of public facilities, while Guri Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation will take on key tasks including revitalizing the wholesale market and advancing plans to relocate it.

The city also outlined measures to ease parking difficulties for visitors to City Hall. It has added 113 temporary parking spaces within the complex and designated priority parking areas for visitors. It has also introduced a “three-strikes rule”: vehicles with regular parking registrations that violate parking rules three times, such as by parking without authorization in visitor-priority areas, will be excluded from regular parking registration for a specified period.

Lee Dohwan, spokesperson for Guri City, speaks at a press briefing in the conference room of the Women's Happiness Center on the 22nd, outlining key issues including water and sewage rate adjustments, appointments to head public institutions, and improvements to parking at City Hall. Provided by Guri City.

“The more closely an issue affects residents’ daily lives, the more important it is to explain fully the reasons for and necessity of the measures being taken,” Lee said. “We will communicate key city administration issues accurately and transparently to deepen residents’ understanding.”

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