Shinan-gun Selected for 12 Billion KRW Jeonnam-type Regional Growth Strategic Project

Published 21 Aug.2020 15:59(KST)

1004seomgil Station Construction Project, 12 Billion KRW Invested Over 3 Years Starting Next Year

Scenic view of Shinan-gun Office (Photo by Shinan-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Ki-woon] Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 21st that it was finally selected on the 20th in the ‘2021 Jeonnam-type Regional Growth Strategy Project’ contest promoted by Jeollanam-do.

The Jeonnam-type regional growth contest project is a large-scale regional development project led by Jeollanam-do to secure future growth engines for Jeonnam and strengthen the autonomous development capabilities of cities and counties.

Among the 22 cities and counties of Jeonnam that submitted project applications, four final projects were selected through document evaluation and presentation evaluation.

Sinan-gun will invest a total project cost of 12 billion KRW, including 5 billion KRW of provincial funds, over three years starting next year in the central region (Jaeun, Amtae, Palgeum, Anjwa) to create the 1004 Seomgil Station concept of a tourist rest area.

The Seomgil Station means connecting islands like railroads on land, and will include a specialty product sales center for island products, restaurants using island ingredients, tourist rest areas, and a cultural welfare center for local residents.

Detailed projects include Jaeun Peanut Land, Amtae Angel Island Station, Palgeum Kkuchippong Center, Anjwa Onion Land, and a linked project where the Palgeum Tourist Fish Market will be established.

The county paid special attention to the building concept. The plan is to make the buildings themselves another tourist attraction by designing unique buildings shaped like local agricultural products such as peanuts, kkuchippong, and onions.

Since the opening of the Cheonsa Bridge in April last year, along with the opening of the World Fossil and Mineral Museum, Anjwa Purple Island, Jaeun Museum Park, and the Infinite Bridge, the number of tourists has explosively increased by 113% compared to 2018, but convenience facilities such as food, restrooms, and rest areas were insufficient.

In addition, the only communication space for residents was the senior citizens’ center, so a cultural communication space for residents was needed.

Governor Park Woo-ryang said, “We will carry out this contest project earnestly to provide ‘cultural welfare facilities’ to local residents, offer convenience to tourists, and develop Sinan into a premium island, contributing to the Sinan Island Blue Tour where visitors stay and return, opening the era of 10 million tourists.”

He added, “In the financially poor reality of the county, contest projects are necessary,” and “We will discover projects suitable for 1004 Islands Sinan, actively explain and seek understanding from central government departments and Jeollanam-do, and participate in all contest projects.”