The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it will prepare a supplementary budget of 1.6146 trillion won for the first additional budget of 2025 and submit it to the Seoul City Council on the 26th for deliberation. This supplementary budget amount is about 3.4% of this year's original budget (48.1545 trillion won). If the supplementary budget is passed as proposed, the total budget for Seoul will amount to 49.7691 trillion won.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to focus investment in three key areas with this supplementary budget: livelihood stability (469.8 billion won), urban safety (158.7 billion won), and future investment (133.5 billion won). Proactive investments to secure the safety of citizens from various accidents, including ground subsidence, have also been included.
◇Investing in innovative and growth-oriented corporations through the 'Small Business Growth Fund'
In the field of livelihood stability, this supplementary budget will allocate 52.9 billion won to support small businesses and medium enterprises, 298.6 billion won to strengthen welfare for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly, and 118.3 billion won to support low birth rate measures related to marriage, childbirth, and childcare.
For livelihood small businesses, 18 billion won will be invested in a 'minus account' type small business safe account, 1.5 billion won will be allocated to activate the public delivery service 'Ddaeng-yeo', and 6.4 billion won will be used to identify and proactively support crisis-stricken small businesses.
A total of 100 billion won will be raised for small and medium enterprises in Seoul that have export performance within the past year, providing loans of up to 500 million won per company and subsidizing 2% of the interest differential. 11.2 billion won has been allocated for this supplementary budget. This is intended to alleviate the burden on corporations due to the U.S. tariff measures.
The 'Small Business Growth Fund' has been included as a new project. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest 700 million won annually and, combined with private funds, create a specialized fund for small businesses totaling 5 billion won over four years, aimed at investing in innovative and growth-oriented corporations.
Additionally, budgets have been allocated for supporting bus fare for people with disabilities (3.6 billion won), Seoul's emergency welfare support (1.3 billion won), and maintaining the emergency care system at municipal hospitals (10 billion won).
There are also budgets for transportation support for pregnant women (7.3 billion won), improving maternal and neonatal health care services by increasing service utilization days for families with 'preterm infants' (5.5 billion won), and expanding postpartum care support in Seoul (2.5 billion won). Budgets will also be injected into establishing municipal kids' cafes in Seoul (400 million won) and weekend specialized municipal kids' cafes (1.7 billion won).
A total of 1.9 billion won will be invested to newly install nine outdoor public wedding venues with unique characteristics, such as traditional Korean houses and gardens, and improve facilities at four existing public wedding venues. This will expand the annual number of couples marrying at public wedding venues in Seoul from 100 to 300.
The 'Seoul-type housework service' support program will invest 1.5 billion won to broaden the eligibility criteria from a median income of 150% to 180%.
◇Installing rainwater retention tanks in the Sinlim public parking lot to reduce the risk of basement flooding
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest a total of 158.7 billion won in urban safety. This includes 146.2 billion won for ground subsidence measures and 12.5 billion won for repairing and reinforcing safety infrastructure.
First, 135.2 billion won will be allocated for the maintenance of aging sewage pipes, which are over 30 years old, with plans to repair an additional 65.9 kilometers by the end of this year. Other measures include detailed investigations and technical assessments of aging sewage pipes (4 billion won), ongoing GPR surveys at six large construction sites (5.6 billion won), installation of an underground monitoring system in Seoul (300 million won), and strengthening groundwater level management (100 million won).
An investment of 1 billion won will be made to upgrade the maintenance area specifications. Maps reflecting various geological and ground characteristics based on sinkhole occurrence history will be created to alleviate public anxiety.
An investment of 2.9 billion won will be made to install rainwater retention tanks in the Sinlim public parking lot in preparation for heavy rainfall, which will be fully operational to reduce the possibility of flooding in the Sinlim-dong area.
◇Creating a 500 billion won 'AI Transformation Fund' by 2026
To secure future growth engines for Seoul, 35.4 billion won will be invested in establishing AI industry infrastructure, and 98.1 billion won will be allocated for various infrastructure developments.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will invest 30 billion won over two years to attract policy finance and private investments, creating a total of 500 billion won 'AI Fund (Artificial Intelligence Transformation Fund)' by 2026. A budget of 10 billion won has been allocated for this.
34 million won will be invested in restructuring Yeouido Park, including building the second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts; 20 million won will be allocated for creating media content for the Nodeul Global Art Island; and 90 million won for hosting the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo.
A total of 21.1 billion won will be invested to establish the climate companion card for youth (ages 13-18) and extend the discount period for veterans from 39 to 42 years of age. Additionally, 31.3 billion won will be allocated for expanding the wrist doctor incentive program. Shower facilities will also be pilot-installed and operated in major running courses such as Namsan and Yeouido.