Seoul: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Tuesday that it has increased its 2026 budget by 7.4 percent to a total of 62.5 trillion won (US$44.9 billion), with a focus on improving safety measures and stabilizing the housing market.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the proposed budget accounts for approximately 8.6 percent of the government’s overall expenditure plan of 728 trillion won for the upcoming year. A significant portion of the budget is allocated to enhance aviation safety, with 120.4 billion won dedicated to measures such as bird-strike prevention at 13 airports and runway overrun prevention systems at three airports, following the Muan International Airport crash in December.

In terms of road safety, funding is set to increase to 92.3 billion won for accident prevention initiatives, including snow removal during the winter season. Additionally, 2.5 trillion won is earmarked for the improvement and maintenance of 102 hazardous road sections. The rail sector will see an increase in funding to 2.9 trillion won, up from this year’s 2.4 trillion won, aimed at upgrading aging facilities and safety infrastructure.

To enhance safety at construction sites, the ministry plans to conduct expert inspections at 3,000 sites and expand support for smart safety equipment at small and medium-sized construction sites. In the realm of housing stability, the government aims to increase the supply of public housing to 194,000 units, with spending rising from this year’s 16.5 trillion won to 22.8 trillion won. This effort will primarily target young people, newlyweds, and the elderly, according to the ministry.