The Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 10th drew up this year's second supplementary budget of 2.8 trillion won. While the first extra budget in April focused on responding to the crisis stemming from the Middle East, this supplementary budget was concentrated across three areas: welfare and housing, youth, and public safety and childrearing. Although macroeconomic indicators are recovering on the back of strength in the AI and semiconductor industries, officials judged that hardships in people's livelihoods that citizens actually feel are still continuing.
The city said it has prepared and submitted the "2026 second supplementary budget" to the Seoul Metropolitan Council for deliberation. The size of the extra budget is 2.8 trillion won, or 5.2% of this year's original budget of 56.8 trillion won. If passed as proposed, Seoul's total budget for this year will be 56.6 trillion won.
◇ 810 billion won set for citizen-facing projects… Eunpyeong and Seonam hospitals to be remodeled early next year
Of this supplementary budget, 66.6% (1.9 trillion won) consists of legally mandated expenditures. Excluding that, there is not much room for the city to allocate funds at its discretion. Still, judging that employment and housing burdens are heavy, the city decided to reflect as much budget as possible in projects that citizens can feel in their daily lives. The amount allocated here is 810 billion won.
"Seoul together," which will receive the largest amount, includes measures to strengthen the safety net for basic livelihood and medical care and expand support for housing stability for vulnerable groups.
First, 222.1 billion won will be invested to strengthen the basic livelihood guarantee. Reflecting an increase in beneficiaries due to the rise in the standard median income this year, the number supported by the livelihood benefit will expand from 316,000 to 328,000, and medical benefits from 264,000 to 279,000. The support amounts total 85.7 billion won and 136.5 billion won, respectively.
The city will also improve medical facilities. Eunpyeong Hospital will be remodeled with a goal of completion in Jan. next year, and Seonam Hospital will be expanded by Mar. next year. The planned investments are 4.8 billion won and 7.6 billion won, respectively. An additional 2.1 billion won is set aside to expand medical support for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups. That includes expanding dental treatment for people with disabilities through support for the Western Dental Hospital for the Disabled (600 million won) and strengthening essential medical support for vulnerable residents through home visits by Dongbu Hospital (1.5 billion won).
The city also allocated funds to stabilize housing. It plans to secure three public rental housing zones by easing floor area ratio limits, investing 13 billion won. Housing benefits for recipients will be expanded from 347,000 households to 364,000 households. This is expected to require 44 billion won.
◇ More autonomous driving taxis and electric buses… 368 aging train cars on Lines 6 and 7 to be replaced
Through this supplementary budget, the city will also pursue "growing Seoul" to expand the base for future industries, and "livable Seoul" to strengthen daily life and safety.
To realize growing Seoul, the city will expand investment in future industries and industry-academia collaboration, broaden the foundation for youth self-reliance, and promote a nighttime economy. A total of 231.9 billion won is allocated here.
Five billion won will go to establishing and operating a pilot autonomous driving zone. The number of late-night autonomous driving taxis in Gangnam will increase to 19 this year. The city will also expand support for purchasing electric vehicles and add more fast chargers for electric buses. Support will continue to help improve youth employment and housing conditions. The city will provide one-year passes for premium generative AI to 500,000 people ages 19 to 29. It also plans to reimburse up to 400,000 won at cost for real estate brokerage fees and moving expenses for people ages 19 to 39.
To boost the nighttime economy, the city will invest a total of 2 billion won. It plans to issue 10 billion won worth of local gift certificates usable only during nighttime hours across five Moonlight Night Market zones. It also plans to support various nighttime programs, including the Namsan Night Festival, the Firefly Garden, and nighttime experiences at Unhyeongung.
In addition, to create a more livable Seoul, the city will improve aging facilities and expand support across life stages from marriage to pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing.
To expand safety and living infrastructure, the city will invest 17.7 billion won to replace 368 aging subway cars on Lines 6 and 7, and spend 7.2 billion won to build or expand rainwater pumping stations in Yangjae, Yeongdeungpo, Geumho, and other areas.
To make the city better for raising children, the city will expand support using public wedding halls and broaden medical expense support for pregnant people ages 35 and older. For Seoul residents age 35 and older who are pregnant, the city will cover up to 500,000 won for outpatient visits and tests during pregnancy. The number of beneficiaries will increase from 20,000 to 28,000.
The city will also expand the directly operated Seoul Fitness 9988 centers for public health and support health improvements using Wrist Doctor 9988. It also plans to expand vouchers for sports classes for people with disabilities.
Acting Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination Lee Dong-ryul said, "We will push ahead without a hitch with support for basic livelihood, medical care, and housing; investment in youth and new industries; and the expansion of safety infrastructure for marriage, childbirth, and childrearing, and will implement quickly after the council vote so citizens can feel the change."