Jeonnam Province Selected as the Nation's Most for Four Consecutive Years in the 'Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project'

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has achieved the remarkable feat of having 15 locations selected for the National Balanced Development Committee’s ‘2022 Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project,’ marking the fourth consecutive year with the highest number of selections nationwide.

According to the province on the 11th, the Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project is a bottom-up contest where regions and residents lead the planning and implementation of necessary projects in their villages, supported by the government, and is divided into urban and rural fishing villages for support.

The project targets underdeveloped villages left out of economic growth benefits, carrying out initiatives such as vacant house and old housing repairs, slate roof improvements, and water and sewage system maintenance to improve living environments. It also strengthens the activation of resident communities through culture, welfare, and job creation, resulting in very high resident satisfaction.

This contest saw applications from 122 villages nationwide, and after on-site and presentation evaluations by the Balanced Development Committee, a total of 68 villages nationwide (10 urban areas and 58 rural fishing villages) were confirmed.

In Jeonnam, 23 villages from 18 cities and counties (3 urban areas and 20 rural fishing villages) participated in the contest, with 2 urban villages and 13 rural fishing villages selected, accounting for 22% of the nation’s total.

The two urban villages are ▲Songjeong Village in Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun ▲Daecheon and Baekgok Villages in Hampyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun.

The 13 rural fishing villages are ▲Hageom Village in Hwangjeon-myeon, Suncheon-si ▲Sinhwang Village in Jinsang-myeon, Gwangyang-si ▲Oedong Village in Changpyeong-myeon, Damyang-gun ▲Heungji Village in Seokgok-myeon, Gokseong-gun ▲Hadeok Village in Gyeombaek-myeon, Boseong-gun ▲Ssangbong Village in Iyang-myeon, Hwasun-gun ▲Dongsamin Village in Byeongyeong-myeon, Gangjin-gun ▲Yongdong Village in Okcheon-myeon, Haenam-gun ▲Jeodu Village in Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun ▲Bokryong Village in Wolya-myeon, Hampyeong-gun ▲Anmado District in Nagwol-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun ▲Singgi Village in Gunnae-myeon, Jindo-gun ▲Goiji District in Aphae-eup, Sinan-gun.

The province will invest a total of 23 billion KRW in national funds over four years, with approximately 3 billion KRW each for urban-type villages and 1.5 billion KRW each for rural fishing villages.

It is expected that residents’ quality of life will greatly improve through enhancements in living infrastructure, old housing repairs, and activation of resident communities.

The province thoroughly prepared by participating in all stages from discovering target sites in cities and counties to establishing contest plans and evaluations including presentations.

They increased the completeness of project applications through expert consultations and preliminary evaluations, and actively responded to presentation evaluations by providing announcer coaching. This effort is analyzed as a key factor leading to the achievement of the highest number of selections nationwide for four consecutive years.

A provincial official said, “We will continue to discover villages with vulnerable living conditions,” and added, “We will improve living infrastructure and housing environments in rural fishing villages to create villages where residents can live well and happily.”

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