Kim Sun-ho, Gurye County Governor, New Year Plan... "Making It a Year of Overcoming and Leap"

Finalizing Flood Damage Compensation, Accelerating Prevention Projects
Establishing Ecotourism and Eco-friendly Organic Farming Infrastructure... Building New Growth Engines
Promoting the Attraction of Yeosun Incident Peace Park

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] Kim Soon-ho, the governor of Gurye County, announced the achievements of Gurye County last year and plans for this year on the 3rd through his year-end and New Year's addresses.

This year, the core county administration will focus on four regional projects to establish eco-tourism infrastructure.

Thorough measures will also be taken for COVID-19 prevention and flood damage prevention projects.

In addition, the creation of eco-friendly infrastructure such as an eco-friendly organic agriculture complex town and the attraction of Natural Dream Park Phase 3 were highlighted as key points.

▲ Over 85% completed second COVID-19 vaccination, flood damage compensation nearing completion

Governor Kim stated that COVID-19 vaccinations are progressing rapidly.

As of December 22, the vaccination rates in Gurye County are 87% for the first dose, 86% for the second dose, and 47% for the third dose.

The county plans to prepare for the prolonged COVID-19 situation by constructing a new screening clinic and reinforcing healthcare personnel.

He announced plans to implement inclusive policies focusing on small business owners and vulnerable groups who have been suffering long-term damage due to COVID-19.

The Gurye Love Gift Certificate will be promoted with a 10% discount event throughout the year.

With the increase in the median income standard, the guarantee level for seven major benefits will be significantly expanded, and direct job support will be provided to about 1,100 people.

Housing costs and loan interest will be supported for university students, newlyweds, and multi-child families, and LH Happy Housing will be built to supply affordable housing.

Flood damage compensation is also nearing its final stage.

Last year, after legal amendments and damage assessment services were completed, a request for environmental dispute mediation worth 100 billion KRW was submitted to the Central Environmental Dispute Committee.

Most public facility restorations have also been completed.

River basin-level river maintenance is being promoted in areas prone to recurrence, and the “District Unit Comprehensive Restoration Project,” which installs drainage pumping stations, is being launched in phases.

The Gurye Fire Station has entered detailed design with a goal of completion next year, and the Seomjingang River Basin Environmental Office will be continuously proposed to be newly established in Gurye.

▲ Opening of Cheoneunsa Coexistence Path, Hwaeomsa Samshinbul Statue upgraded to National Treasure

The Cheoneunsa Coexistence Path project, promoted as a follow-up to the 2019 agreement to abolish admission fees for Cheoneunsa Park Cultural Heritage, was completed in March last year.

The Gurye Arboretum, located in Tapjeong-ri, Sandong-myeon, has also completed flood restoration and officially opened, attracting tourists.

The wooden Vairocana Buddha Samshinbul statue of Gurye Hwaeomsa Temple was upgraded from a treasure to a national treasure.

National Treasure No. 35, the Hwaeomsa Four-Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda, was opened to the public after over five years of dismantling and restoration.

▲ Maechon Library and Public Library relocated and opened, accelerating urban regeneration projects

The Maechon Library operated by the county and the Gurye Public Library operated by the Gurye Office of Education have completed relocation and opening in school-dense areas.

A total of 6 billion KRW was invested in each library.

Maechon Library provides services for adults, while Gurye Public Library operates for infants, children, and adolescents.

Urban regeneration projects are also accelerating.

The county completed a project to remodel the old Gurye distillery into a cultural space.

Construction has started on the integrated Harmony Center and complex plaza, which will relocate the town office.

Through urban regeneration projects, the county is also promoting the repair of old houses in flood-affected areas.

The county plans to actively promote the construction of a wellness complex center worth 15.3 billion KRW, LH Happy Housing construction, and urban regeneration projects focused on revitalizing flood-affected areas.

▲ Special Law on the Yeosun Incident enacted after 73 years... Efforts to attract Yeosun Incident Peace Park

Last year, a special law on the Yeosun Incident was enacted after 73 years.

Governor Kim Soon-ho emphasized, “Our Gurye is the region that suffered the longest and most severely from the Yeosun Incident,” and expressed plans to attract the Yeosun Incident Peace Park to Gurye.

▲ Creating an eco-tourism and eco-friendly organic agriculture city... Full-scale promotion of four regional projects

The county plans to improve the urban environment and expand tourism infrastructure centered on four major regions: Gurye-eup, Seomjingang, Hwaeomsa, and Jirisan Hot Springs.

The Gurye-eup region will improve residential conditions focusing on urban regeneration and revitalization of traditional markets.

The integrated Harmony Center and wellness complex center projects were highlighted as core projects.

The traditional market will be developed into a tourism-oriented market, and a smart traditional market system will be established to secure non-face-to-face sales channels.

In the Seomjingang region, four cities and counties will jointly promote the Seomjingang Integrated Tourism Belt project to create metropolitan tourism demand.

An otter ecological park and ecological garden will be opened, and unique leisure facilities such as sky bike and sky surfer will be introduced.

In the Hwaeomsa region, the “Hwaeomsa Blue Tour Project” worth 10 billion KRW and the Asiatic black bear sanctuary project will be actively promoted with a goal of attracting one million tourists.

In the Jirisan Hot Springs region, the Jirisan Garden zipline and monorail will open, and a second phase project will be promoted.

A forest-themed garden will be created, and accommodation facilities will be expanded in phases. The “Corporate Smart Local Hub Office Complex” for corporate attraction will also be actively promoted.

Efforts to expand eco-friendly organic agriculture infrastructure will be accelerated.

A logistics center, the largest in Jeonnam, will be completed at Natural Dream Park, and construction of an eco-friendly organic agriculture complex town and tomato workshop will begin.

The plan to attract Phase 3 to create a healing and wellness cluster was also announced.

A mixed plastic recycling advanced center will be installed, and the spread of renewable energy will be expanded to move toward a carbon-neutral city.

Agricultural support policies will also be actively implemented.

The cultivation base for income crops such as facilities, watermelon, and cucumber will be expanded, and mechanization technology and commercialization projects for field crops will be promoted.

Support for agricultural product packaging materials and e-commerce delivery costs will increase price competitiveness, and public interest allowances and direct payments will be provided to farmers and fishermen to help stabilize management.

Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “Despite the harsh ordeal of COVID-19, there was a new opportunity,” and added, “We will make 2022 a year of overcoming crisis, inclusion, and a new leap forward.”

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok kun5783@asiae.co.kr

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