Hello, everyone! When you think of the country’s budget, do you usually picture only complex and rigid numbers? However, hidden among those numbers are warm and fascinating stories that can change the lives of our neighbors, families, and even ourselves. Today, I will introduce you to 10 exciting projects included in the 2026 budget proposal that feel like something out of a movie or novel.
1. ‘Safety Pedal’ for Senior Drivers
“Are our parents okay to drive?” This is a concern many of us have had at least once. Especially for elderly drivers in the transportation industry, a moment of pedal misoperation can lead to serious accidents, causing significant anxiety.
So, the government is stepping in. A new initiative will support the installation of ‘pedal misoperation prevention devices’ for transportation operators aged 65 and older. If the vehicle is nearly stopped or in reverse and the accelerator is suddenly pressed hard, the smart device will determine, “Oh, this is a mistake!” and prevent sudden acceleration. This device will serve as a reliable ‘safety platform’ to protect the safety of our parents and everyone on the road.
- Budget: 500 million KRW (new)
- Target Group: Approximately 2,000 taxi and small cargo drivers aged 65 and older
- Support Details: 50-80% support for the installation cost (440,000 KRW per unit)
2. A Safe Call Displaying Only ‘Real Police’
“This is Investigator OOO from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.” Have you ever received such a call? Voice phishing impersonating investigative agencies has become increasingly sophisticated, leading many to hang up even when a real police officer calls, thinking, “Isn’t this phishing?”
Starting in 2026, you will be able to worry less about this. When calling from a work phone used by police or investigative agencies, the caller information certified by the carrier will appear on your smartphone screen as ‘OO Police Station.’ Now, with a clear distinction between real and fake, we can expect a dual benefit of protecting our property and facilitating investigative work.
- Budget: 860 million KRW (new)
- Expected Effect: Reduction in phishing crimes impersonating investigative agencies and prevention of harm to citizens
3. ‘Forest Weddings’ in National Parks
Do you dream of a special wedding that is different from others on your most special day? Now that dream becomes a reality. The government has decided to create ‘forest wedding venues’ in beautiful national parks at affordable costs.
Imagine a wedding held in stunning nature, such as Bukhansan, Sobaeksan, or Naejangsan. It sounds romantic just to think about it, right? Especially for couples from vulnerable groups, additional costs like floral decorations and makeup will be supported, reducing financial burdens while creating happy memories. We hope to see more couples starting new beginnings blessed by nature.
- Budget: 3.5 billion KRW (new)
- Expected Effect: Reduction in wedding costs and expansion of cultural resource utilization in national parks
4. Let’s Clean Up Our Neighborhood! ‘National Cleanup Campaign’
Our beautiful rural areas, but you may have experienced frowning at the sight of litter and agricultural waste left everywhere.
So, in 2026, a large-scale ‘National Cleanup Campaign’ will begin. Local residents will form ‘cleanup support teams’ to clean up trash throughout their villages, and the government will actively support this. Support for the removal of trash floating in dams, rivers, and the sea will also be expanded. A cleaner country will refresh not only the residents living there but also the urban visitors to rural areas.
- Budget: 82.9 billion KRW (77 billion KRW increase from 2025)
- Expected Effect: Improvement of living conditions and scenery in rural areas, enhancement of residents’ quality of life
5. Protecting the Assets of Seniors with Dementia
There are often unfortunate news stories about elderly individuals with dementia becoming targets of fraud or exploitation due to impaired judgment. To prevent them from losing the assets they worked hard to accumulate over a lifetime, the government will become a reliable ‘asset manager.’
The ‘Dementia Safe Asset Management Support Service’ is a pilot program where, if the elderly wish, the National Pension Service will safely manage their assets through a trust agreement. By managing necessary expenses such as hospital bills and purchasing needed items, the goal is to protect the elderly’s valuable assets and ensure a stable retirement life.
- Budget: 1.9 billion KRW (new)
- Implementing Agency: National Pension Service
- Expected Effect: Prevention of economic harm to dementia patients and improvement of quality of life
6. Preventing ‘Manhole Traps’ During Heavy Rain!
“Be careful of manhole covers on rainy days!” This may soon become a thing of the past. Each time there is heavy rain, manhole covers open due to sewage backflow, posing a dangerous threat to citizens’ safety.
To prevent further loss of life, the government will install ‘fall prevention facilities’ in all manholes in flood-prone areas nationwide. Even if the cover opens, the sturdy safety facility below will support it, so there is no risk of falling even if someone accidentally steps in. We will ensure that people can walk the streets safely, even during frequent heavy rains caused by climate change.
- Budget: 110.4 billion KRW (new)
- Installation Scale: 206,754 locations in 15 cities and provinces
- Expected Effect: Prevention of manhole fall accidents during heavy rain and protection of citizens’ lives
7. ‘Life Alarm’ for Old Apartments
Old apartments lacking fire safety facilities like sprinklers are particularly vulnerable to fires. If a fire spreads while people are asleep or unaware, it can lead to significant casualties.
To reduce this risk, the government will distribute ‘standalone smoke detectors.’ Priority will be given to households in old apartments built before 2005 that house vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. This ’life alarm,’ which responds sensitively to even small amounts of smoke and emits a strong alarm, will help ensure quick evacuation in the early stages of a fire, potentially saving precious lives.
- Budget: 7.2 billion KRW (new)
- Target Group: 500,000 vulnerable households in old apartments built before 2005
- Expected Effect: Prevention of casualties by shortening fire detection time
8. A Helping Hand for Isolated Youth
There are reportedly more young people than we think who are struggling alone, disconnected from the world (estimated at about 540,000). What they may need most is probably a warm concern that simply asks, “Are you okay?”
The ‘Online Care Pilot Program’ starts from this very sentiment. Professional counselors will reach out to young people in need of help through online channels like KakaoTalk or text messages, regularly checking in and providing companionship at set times. This small act of reaching out can open young people’s hearts and plant the precious seed of courage to step back into the world.
- Budget: 1 billion KRW (new)
- Expected Effect: Alleviation of feelings of isolation and enhancement of emotional and psychological stability
9. Traffic Violation Videos, Now Available at Home
“What did I violate?” The inconvenience of having to visit the police station to check video evidence after receiving a traffic violation notice will now be eliminated.
In the future, a QR code will be printed on the fine notice. By scanning this QR code with a smartphone and completing a simple identity verification, you can check your violation video anytime, anywhere. This smart policy saves citizens’ time and effort with a small but significant change.
- Budget: 760 million KRW (new)
- Expected Effect: Improvement of citizen convenience and reduction of visits to police stations for complaints
10. Instead of Our Sons, Robots Will Remove Landmines
In our country, there are still over 1 million landmines buried in an area equivalent to 40 times the size of Yeouido. Until now, the dangerous task of removing these landmines has been carried out by our military personnel. Parents who send their sons to the military can only worry and lose sleep.
Now, robots will take over this dangerous task. Robots equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) will detect and safely remove explosives and landmines instead of humans. This is expected to reduce casualties among soldiers by 15 times and speed up landmine detection by three times. This initiative not only ensures the safety of our soldiers but also alleviates the worries of their parents, and behind this project lies a touching story of a soldier’s heartfelt letter advocating for their safety.
- Budget: 113.2 billion KRW (923 billion KRW increase from 2025)
- Expected Effect: Dramatic reduction in soldier casualties and establishment of a safe military service environment
What did you think? The 10 stories included in the 2026 budget proposal are truly fascinating, aren’t they? As such, the budget is not just a simple number but a commitment and consideration to lead our lives in a better direction. Let’s look forward to what delightful changes will come to our daily lives in the future!