▲ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during an open talk session on the "Youth AI Growth Voucher Support Pilot Project" held at the Seoul Metropolitan Government's grand conference room on October 27.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has reaffirmed its stance on expanding youth access to AI by prioritizing the "Youth Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Voucher" in its upcoming budget bill.
Announcing its budget proposal of KRW 55.7445 trillion (approximately USD 40.2 billion) for 2027 today (October 29), the city explained that the focus was placed on preventing opportunity gaps among young people.
Noting that AI proficiency has become a critical competency for employment and economic activity today, the city has allocated KRW 26.6 billion to provide generative AI access vouchers to 500,000 young people to ensure that disparities in AI usage costs and educational opportunities do not lead to employment and income gaps.
Earlier, the Seoul metropolitan government had allocated KRW 5.625 billion for the related project in this year's supplementary budget, but the city council slashed the entire amount.
The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority in the city council, agreed with the intent of the project but explained that detailed plans, such as target recipients and service methods, were inadequate.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said during a press briefing today, "In a job market that changes at the speed of light, falling behind by three or four months can make a truly decisive difference. In that sense, I really hoped it would be reflected in the supplementary budget, and it is truly regrettable that it became difficult."
Regarding the new budget proposal, he added, "We are working hard to faithfully persuade the city council so that we can push the original bill through as much as possible. I will approach negotiations with the mindset that if there is well-founded criticism, I will fully accept it."
▲ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks while attending a regular executive meeting to revitalize the nighttime economy held at Seoul City Hall on July 15. (Photo: Yonhap News)
The budget also includes funding to fully promote the "24-Hour Vibrant Economy" (nighttime economy), a core initiative of the 9th popular term of the Seoul local government.
The city previously selected six locations, including the Konkuk University Food Street, as the final sites for the "Dalbit Yajang" (Moonlight Night Market) project, which brings the nighttime economy to alley commercial districts.
The latest budget proposal allocates KRW 10.5 billion to select and support 10 new locations for the second phase of Dalbit Yajang.
It also includes budgets for expanding the temporary camping site at Han River Park known as "Han River Bamping," establishing nighttime lifestyle sports hubs within Gwangnaru and Ichon Han River Parks (KRW 1.9 billion), and improving the waterside nighttime scenery around Jamwon Han River Park (KRW 10 billion).
To alleviate citizens' housing anxieties, the city will continue to expand the housing supply foundation and provide housing cost support.
The youth monthly rent subsidy (KRW 126.2 billion) will be expanded from 23,000 people this year to 32,000 people, and support for key money loan interest for homeless newlyweds and young adults (KRW 75.8 billion) will also be increased.
In addition, budgets have been set aside to support the prompt promotion of private redevelopment projects, such as Shinmokdong 2.0 (KRW 10.8 billion) and Moa Town and Moa Housing (KRW 12.3 billion).
Furthermore, the city stated that it is accelerating a project to create a large-scale downtown park around the Sewoon district, allocating KRW 123.2 billion for compensation costs and other related expenses.
Last year, the city unveiled a blueprint to create a total of 136,000 square meters of downtown green space by stepping down the Sewoon shopping arcade complex to build parks and expanding open green spaces within private lots.
In addition, KRW 2 billion was allocated to realize "Shaded Walking Rights" allowing people to walk while avoiding the scorching sun, and KRW 13 billion was assigned to newly introduce the "In-Between Generation Pension" for the 4050 middle-aged generation who are prone to income gaps before receiving their national pensions.
While the city has outlined its business plans for next year through the budget proposal, the crux lies in how much it will be adjusted during the city council's budget deliberation process.
In the 12th Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Democratic Party holds 80 seats out of the total 118, which is more than two-thirds, creating a "minority ruling, majority opposition" dynamic regarding the Seoul metropolitan government.
The Democratic Party-dominated city council clashed with the city during the deliberation of Seoul's supplementary budget in September this year by cutting the youth AI growth voucher budget alongside nighttime economy revitalization funds.
Friction is also arising regarding the development of the Sewoon district.
In the case of Sewoon District 4, voices opposing the project, centered around the Democratic Party, are emerging due to concerns that the high-rise buildings to be constructed there could damage the view seen from Jongmyo Shrine.
Meanwhile, the budget related to the restoration of "Public Jobs Centered on Rights for Persons with Disabilities," which the city council's Democratic Party has pushed as a party line, was not included in this budget proposal.
The public jobs centered on rights for persons with disabilities is a project that provides jobs in fields such as advocacy, culture and arts, and awareness improvement for individuals with disabilities who have been marginalized in the labor market.
However, the program had been abolished amid issues raised that more than half of its duties corresponded to "campaigns" such as rallies and demonstrations.
Although the city council's Democratic Party passed an ordinance revision bill to revive it last month, the city showed opposition by demanding a reconsideration.
Amidst such conflicts erupting across municipal administration, the city council is scheduled to open its 340th regular session starting November 2 to deliberate agendas including the administrative audit and the 2027 budget proposal.
(Photo: Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.