Seodaemun-gu Budgets 32 Resident-Proposed Projects for 2027

A narrow walkway along Hongjecheon stream, a dimly lit alley at night, a market square that floods when it rains — everyday frustrations noticed by residents of Seodaemun-gu will be addressed through the district's 2027 participatory budget.

Seodaemun-gu announced Monday that it had selected 32 projects totaling 1.22 billion won ($909,000) for its 2027 participatory budgeting program — initiatives proposed, reviewed and voted on by residents themselves.

Compared with last year's 25 projects worth 1.15 billion won, the new round adds seven projects and 61.81 million won in funding. The expansion reflects not only a larger number of initiatives but also a broader process in which residents identify, propose and choose the changes they want in their neighborhoods.

A total of 137 resident proposals were submitted this year. After review by relevant departments and on-site and full evaluations by the Participatory Budget Committee, 33 projects advanced to a public vote, of which 32 were ultimately selected. The number of projects put to a public vote rose from 26 last year to 33 this year, an increase of seven, or 26.9 percent.

The largest single project, at 313 million won, covers sidewalk expansion along Hongjecheon and the relocation of exercise equipment along the stream's walking path. The work aims to widen pedestrian space and rearrange fitness stations along the heavily used trail, creating a safer and more comfortable walking environment.

Other top-funded projects include 71.25 million won for materials and equipment to support weekend and evening lifelong-learning programs, and 60 million won for an ecological survey of Hongjecheon and publication of a report. The selections span pedestrian infrastructure, education and the natural environment, reflecting the range of needs residents identified in their daily lives.

In the safety and pedestrian category, selected projects include installation of rain-shelter facilities along the Ansan hillside trail, CCTV cameras near Sinchon Baramsan, LED streetlight replacements and additions along Jeunggaro 32-angil, and smart crosswalk safety equipment in front of the DMC Parkview Xi 2 complex.

Also included are improvements to chronic flooding near Yeongcheon Market and a sidewalk expansion beside the Yeongcheon-dong Dongnimmun bus stop — both cases where residents flagged recurring hazards they encounter in their daily routines.

In the lifelong-learning and welfare category, planned projects include digital literacy education for senior citizens, smart-touch table support for dementia prevention, and a children's art class program. The selections reflect the needs of residents across generations, from the elderly to young children.

Environmental and park projects include installation of ginkgo-fruit collection devices, shade structures and street-tree maintenance at Yeonga Children's Park, additional exercise equipment at the Ansan Bokju Well spring and a small park, a floating-debris removal system for Bulgwangcheon stream, and the installation of drinking fountains and restoration of a pavilion near the Hongjecheon walking path.

In the culture and community category, selected projects include a heritage distribution map and interpretive signboards for Seodaemun-gu's cultural assets, improvements to a cultural park linked to the poet Park Hwa-mok trail, and additional public banner display boards.

The public vote ran online from Aug. 19 to Sept. 4. Final project selections were determined by combining vote results with evaluation scores from the Participatory Budget Committee.

Committee members also visited community centers, welfare facilities and other frequently used local venues to explain the program and voting process. The outreach was designed to extend resident involvement beyond the proposal stage to include on-site reviews, voting and the final selection process.

At the Participatory Budget Committee general assembly held Thursday at the district office auditorium, Seodaemun-gu District Mayor Park Un-gi said the program's starting point is "not grand projects, but the small inconveniences residents feel on the streets they walk every day and the parks they use." He added that "when a problem discovered by a resident leads to real change in the neighborhood through residents' own choices, that is what I consider governance that works close to people's lives."

Lee Chung-gyu, chair of the Seodaemun-gu Participatory Budget Committee, described the program as "a system that directly reflects residents' everyday needs in the budget while enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability," and called on residents to continue engaging with the process.

The 32 selected projects will go through budget deliberations at the Seodaemun-gu Council before being finalized as part of the 2027 district budget.