Yeongam-gun Begins Challenge for Youth 6-Week Rural Relocation Experience

Introduction of Metaverse at the 'Giga Maeul' Resident Welcome Party

Young people living across the country are meeting for the first time in a virtual space, greeting each other through avatars they have customized. (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Yeongam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Jeollanam-do Yeongam-gun announced on the 15th that the Cultural Creation Center (CEO Kim Jeong-gwan), located in the Yeongam Youth Startup Mall, held the ‘Welcome Party for Giga Village Residents,’ marking the start of the ‘Youth 6-Week Living’ project, in the metaverse (virtual space).

The project was named ‘Giga Village’ with the slogan, “A village overflowing with the energy of Yeongam Wolchulsan, where tired youth come to recharge.”

Moreover, the word ‘Giga’ also signifies the program’s target audience: digital nomad youth who can work and generate income anywhere as long as there is internet access, even outside urban areas.

The gathered youth come to Yeongam to experiment with the possibility of returning to rural life without farming, sustaining their lives in their own unique ways through various challenges.

This year, two rounds of the 6-week living program are scheduled. The first round will be held at the Hwanggeumdeurae Center in Dopomyeon, and the second round is planned for around October in Mojeong Village.

On the 12th, seven youths with diverse personalities applied by submitting videos containing their portfolios and commitments, earning the qualifications to move in and being selected for the first round.

The first meeting place for these gathered youths was the metaverse (virtual space). The appearance of a traditional Hanok pension located in Yeongam-gun was faithfully recreated in the virtual space, with a stage set up in the yard and a party venue arranged.

Youths from all over the country met for the first time in the virtual space, greeted each other through their customized avatars, took photos together, and then took turns going up on the installed stage to introduce themselves, creating an unforgettable first encounter.

An official from Yeongam-gun said, “The youths participating in the 6-week living program have expressed great expectations and excitement about Yeongam,” adding, “This has provided a good opportunity for the youths who consider Yeongam their second hometown to settle in Yeongam-gun.”

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