Jeonnam Province Selected Most Nationwide for 'Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project'

29 Villages Selected... 44.9 Billion KRW National Funding Support Over 4 Years

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 4th that 29 villages were selected in the ‘2020 Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project’ public contest hosted by the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development.

In this contest, a total of 151 villages nationwide underwent evaluation by the Balanced Development Committee’s selection committee, and 127 locations were finally selected.

Jeonnam Province recorded the highest number nationwide again this year, with 29 villages selected, accounting for 23% of the total nationwide.

As a result, it will receive 44.9 billion KRW in national funding over the next four years.

The ‘Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project’ is implemented over four years in urban areas and three years in rural and fishing villages, with national funding support per village of about 3 billion KRW for urban areas and about 1.5 billion KRW for rural and fishing villages.

The project mainly improves basic living standards for residents in vulnerable areas by renovating slate roofs, repairing old houses, maintaining fences and retaining walls, and expanding safety facilities such as village alley fire roads. It also significantly expands living infrastructure such as improving traditional toilets and upgrading water supply and sewage systems.

Additionally, it supports software projects such as human care and capacity-building programs to revitalize community life, including elderly care and health management programs.

The villages selected in urban areas are three in total: Bonggang Village in Jusam-dong, Yeosu City; Hwangtogudeongi Village in Yeonggwang-eup, Yeonggwang County; and Hangdong Village in Wando-eup, Wando County.

The rural and fishing villages include 26 villages: Masan Village in Gwangyang-eup, Jangjae Village in Jinwol-myeon, and Changwon Village in Jinsang-myeon of Gwangyang City; Hoeryong Village in Damyang-eup, Damyang County; Daesa Village in Godal-myeon, Chilgok Village in Gyeom-myeon, and Geunchon Village in Samgi-myeon of Gokseong County; Sinheung Village in Goheung-eup, Seokjeong Village in Geumsan-myeon, and Sang and Habun Villages in Gwaryeok-myeon of Goheung County; Hoejeong Village and Choji Village in Beolgyo-eup, Boseong County; Haedong Village in Cheongpung-myeon and Geumnung Village in Iyang-myeon of Hwasun County; Yerak Village in Munnae-myeon and Gwandong Village in Hwasan-myeon of Haenam County; and Sango Village in Yeomsan-myeon, Yeonggwang County.

The selected villages in urban areas are located in central areas but have been neglected in development, resulting in significant living disparities with surrounding areas. The rural and fishing villages are underdeveloped villages far from eup and myeon centers, located in geographically disadvantaged areas such as mountainous remote areas or islands, with high aspirations and willingness to participate from residents.

So far, the province has encouraged active consent and participation from residents as well as prior consulting with participating cities and counties to establish competitive project plans.

In particular, customized consulting was conducted for each city and county through the province’s prior evaluation, and during the Balanced Development Committee’s on-site and face-to-face evaluations, actively expressing the necessity of the project and the willingness of local residents to participate was analyzed as a key factor for success.

The selected projects will be led by the respective local governments, which will prepare project plans according to implementation guidelines and are scheduled to commence in June.

Ko Gwangwan, Director of Planning and Coordination at Jeonnam Province, said, “I deeply appreciate the hard work of local residents and related officials in achieving such great results,” and added, “We will continue efforts to discover villages with vulnerable living conditions in the province that have not yet had opportunities and reflect them in national funding support projects.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.