Yanggu-gun Mayor Kim Wang-gyu was in Seoul on Wednesday, and he was not alone — mayors and county chiefs across Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province have been making frequent trips to Seoul and Sejong of late. Governor Woo Sang-ho has been doing the same.
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has secured a record 11.12 trillion won ($8.12 billion) in national government funding in the 2027 budget proposal set to be submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday — surpassing its target by 423 billion won and ushering in what officials are calling the "11 trillion won era" for the province.
The figure represents an increase of 863 billion won, or 8.4 percent, from the previous year. Beyond the sheer scale, the province also secured 1.21 trillion won earmarked for qualitative improvements and campaign pledges under the ninth elected administration, covering infrastructure expansion, future industry development and improvements to residential conditions.
To achieve the result, the province identified new projects aligned with next year's government policy direction and an expansionary fiscal stance, while drawing broadly on the networks of its leadership to engage relevant ministries, the Ministry of Planning and Budget and the National Assembly.
In the final stage of government review, Governor Woo met directly with Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun to make the case for key projects. The administrative vice governor and bureau directors also paid direct visits to budget division heads at the ministry, with the leadership driving an all-fronts effort.
In infrastructure, the province secured 2.42 trillion won, including 270.8 billion won for the Chuncheon–Sokcho railway, 118.3 billion won for the Jecheon–Yeongwol expressway, 190 billion won for the Yeoju–Wonju railway and 55 billion won for the Second Gyeongchun National Highway.
The economy and industry sector totaled 1.22 trillion won, with funding allocated for new hydrogen charging infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles (10.2 billion won), a new semiconductor design support center (5.3 billion won), a small- and medium-sized CDMO antigen-antibody material bank (3.1 billion won), a Gangwon medical AI transformation industry demonstration hub (2 billion won), parking improvements at traditional markets across seven areas (1.6 billion won) and new safety evaluation infrastructure for core components of electric vehicle CTP and CTB systems (1 billion won).
Welfare and health secured 2.97 trillion won, including 937.9 billion won for the basic pension, 329.3 billion won for livelihood benefits, 371.6 billion won for medical benefit treatment services and 163.4 billion won for senior employment and social activity support.
Culture, tourism and sports received 298.4 billion won, including 11.4 billion won for the repair and restoration of nationally designated heritage sites, 1.1 billion won for a new marine healing center and 4.9 billion won for community SOC national sports center support.
Agriculture, fisheries and environment claimed 1.35 trillion won in national funding, with key allocations including 275.4 billion won for sewage facility expansion, 2.7 billion won for equipment modernization at a new international cruise terminal, 150.6 billion won for the basic public-interest direct payment program and 200 million won for support in establishing new animal protection centers.
Safety, administration and other areas included 91.8 billion won for disaster-risk zone improvements and 22.5 billion won for Gangwon-model public housing construction across seven areas.
"This achievement is the result of the combined efforts of our residents, civil servants and local Assembly members," Governor Woo said, adding that the funding "will serve as a major driving force for realizing the vision of the ninth elected administration." He added that the province would work closely with local and Gangwon-affiliated Assembly members to secure national funding for any projects not reflected in the government proposal.
The province plans to shift into a National Assembly response mode from September, launching its budget deliberation effort with a ruling party-government budget policy consultation on Sept. 14.
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