Gunsan Local Eye Director Park Hyung-cheol Honored as 'Regional Innovator'

Recognition for Practicing the Sharing Economy and Contributing to the Revitalization of Local Markets

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Tae-in] Park Hyung-cheol (47), director of Gunsan Culture Cooperative Local Eye in Jeonbuk, has been honored by being selected as a third-term regional innovator by the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development.

On the 27th, the city announced that Director Park Hyung-cheol was finally selected as a regional innovator in recognition of his contributions to practicing the sharing economy and revitalizing neighborhood commercial districts by freely sharing self-developed characters with small business owners.

The regional innovator is selected by the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development through written evaluations and reviews of candidates who have led regional changes by implementing innovative and creative ideas in various fields to establish and activate the regional innovation system.

Director Park was recognized for forming a cooperative voluntarily with citizens to revive the local economy facing employment and industrial crises, developing a local character called ‘Meokbangi and Friends,’ and providing it free of charge to local small business owners, thereby contributing to the practice of the sharing economy and the revitalization of neighborhood commercial districts.

Additionally, he attracted attention for opening new paths for Gunsan tourism by producing various contents using local characters, such as developing food products made from local agricultural products, producing music videos and animations based on Gunsan’s tourism and history, and creating the AR Gunsan Stamp Tour app.

Moreover, in collaboration with Gunsan University, he reconstructed an abandoned warehouse inside Gunsan Customs into a cultural and artistic platform and led the revitalization of local culture and arts by offering diverse free events such as humanities concerts to citizens.

Director Park Hyung-cheol said, “I believe true regional innovation can be created through the active participation of citizens living in the region,” adding, “I will not forget that Meokbangi started from the hearts of citizens who love the region, and I will do my best to widely promote Gunsan and share the jobs and profits created through this with the citizens of Gunsan.”

Meanwhile, Director Park Hyung-cheol will receive support for innovator activities such as networking from the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development to spread excellent cases of regional innovation nationwide in the future.

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