Reporting the 'Hamyang Rural Utopia Project,' the nation's first implementation, as an exemplary case to the President

Achievements and Future Tasks of Leading Projects for Solving Urban and Rural Issues

On the 16th, at a work briefing chaired by President Moon Jae-in, Park Hyun-gi, Head of Innovation Strategy at Hamyang County, reported on the current status of the Rural Utopia project and explained its vision under the theme "Achievements and Future Tasks of Leading the Hamyang Rural Utopia Project," following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's work report by Minister Byeon Chang-heum.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The ‘Rural Utopia Project,’ which is being implemented for the first time nationwide by Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam Province as a rural regeneration plan, was presented as an exemplary case at the presidential work report meeting.

According to Hamyang-gun, at the work report meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in, following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) work report by Minister Byeon Chang-heum, Park Hyun-gi, Hamyang-gun’s Innovation Strategy Officer, reported on the current status of the Rural Utopia Project under the theme ‘Achievements and Future Tasks of the Hamyang Rural Utopia Leading Project’ and explained its vision.

This forum was a very important occasion for setting the government policy direction of MOLIT for 2021, attended by President Moon Jae-in, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, ministers and vice ministers, party floor leaders and policy committee chairs, and private experts. Among the four related discussion topics?youth, basic local governments, academia experts, and integrated logistics associations?the ‘Hamyang Rural Utopia,’ which is being promoted by Hamyang-gun by creating a platform combining housing, jobs, and living SOC to revitalize the region, attracted the greatest interest.

The Hamyang-gun Rural Utopia Project began with a vice minister-level meeting on November 15, 2019, to conceive the Rural Utopia. On March 5, 2020, LH, the Korea Rural Economic Institute, and Hamyang-gun held an innovation workshop to realize the utopia, and on April 7, Gyeongnam Province, LH, the Korea Rural Economic Institute, Hamyang-gun, and the Seohah Elementary School Student Care Committee signed a basic agreement for leading utopia implementation. Subsequently, on April 23, an expert governance forum was held to gather diverse opinions, and in August, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the second and third phases of the utopia plan was signed.

Accordingly, the construction of purchased rental housing in the county has been completed, and the first phase of the Rural Utopia Project, the settlement phase, is underway, including the Seohadaum Youth Residence Platform project and the village maintenance-type public housing construction (100 units) in Anui-myeon.

Going forward, to ensure the successful settlement of the Rural Utopia Project, the county plans to promote the second phase, the expansion phase, including a living SOC-linked contest, customized support projects for local demand, a contest for improving living conditions in vulnerable areas (Saetteul Village), and the third phase, the completion phase, including a contest for investment leading districts, the establishment of a 6th industrial complex, job-linked support housing construction, and the creation of residential complex districts for retirees and others.

County Governor Seo Chun-soo stated, “Rural areas are emerging as a stage for activities to solve problems such as rising housing prices due to urban population concentration, unemployment issues, and regional decline caused by a shortage of young people in rural areas,” adding, “The Rural Utopia will create a platform combining housing, jobs, and living SOC in declining rural areas, enabling sustainable rural regeneration and revitalization, and simultaneously solving urban and rural problems.”

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