Yujinseop Jeongeup Mayor Wins 'Grand Prize' at Democratic Party Excellent Policy Competition

Published 15 Nov.2021 14:33(KST)

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Yoo Jin-seop, mayor of Jeongeup City, Jeonbuk, received the grand prize in the basic local government category and a first-class award from the party leader at the ‘2021 Democratic Party of Korea Local Government Excellent Policy Competition’ on the 15th.

According to the city on the 15th, Mayor Yoo participated in the local government excellent policy evaluation (basic local government) with the ‘Naejangsan-Cultural Square-Yongsanho Triangle Tourism Belt Construction (hereinafter Triangle Tourism Belt) Project,’ competing against 8 metropolitan local government heads and 104 basic local government heads, and won the honor.

This competition was hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea’s Committee for Good Local Governments to solicit excellent policies from local governments and internally evaluate outstanding policy cases that have taken root in the field of public livelihood and significantly contributed to improving residents’ quality of life.

The competition was divided into excellent policies of local governments and excellent ordinances of local councils.

The winners were selected through a strict comprehensive evaluation by a panel of judges composed of external experts with extensive experience in local government policy evaluation and law.

The Triangle Tourism Belt Construction Project is a policy to link the tourism infrastructure around Naejangsan, including Naejangsan Cultural Square and the Yongsanho area, into a triangle to enhance the effectiveness of tourism infrastructure development and create a virtuous cycle that serves as a foundation for revitalizing tourism in Jeongeup.

Mayor Yoo’s intention is to secure independent financial resources through this project to solve the problem of poor local finances.

In particular, the plan aims to break away from the autumn seasonal tourism city dependent on nature such as autumn foliage and gujeolcho (Korean chrysanthemum) and open an era of 10 million tourists by building a tourism belt that offers attractions, entertainment, and food in line with new trends.

Additionally, the plan includes expanding the area to Jeongchon Song Festival Special Zone, Jeongeupsa Park, and Ayangsan Mountain to naturally connect tourists to the downtown commercial district.

Through this, the plan envisions revitalizing the local economy and continuously increasing stay-type tourists and related populations as a way to escape the crisis of local extinction.

The city plans to build diverse tourism content at Yongsanho, including the Mirsaem Fountain, waterfront paths, and a romantic sandy beach, and establish a digital media art center incorporating light, sound, and scent with a circular train and rail bike around the Cultural Square area.

Near Naejangsan, the city has successfully attracted the National Pension Service Training Center, JB Financial Group Integrated Training Center, and Korea Electrical Safety Corporation Electrical Safety Education Center in succession.

Since the opening of the Naejangsan Ecological Exploration Center in November 2019, private operators have been building lodging facilities around the Naejangsan Resort area, and recently, Alice Stay Pool Villa & Resort also opened.

Mayor Yoo Jin-seop said, “I am pleased that the excellence of the policy to secure independent financial resources through the construction of the Triangle Tourism Belt connecting Naejangsan, Cultural Square, and Yongsanho has been recognized externally,” adding, “We will continue to transform Naejangsan into the number one destination for stay-type ecological and cultural experiences and open a new era of great leap forward for Jeongeup.”