Imsil-gun's 'Rural New Vitality Plus Project' Promotion

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun's Rural New Vitality Plus Project is laying the foundation for a new leap forward this year with the motto of integrated rural development and building a sustainable self-reliance base.

Imsil County will promote the Rural New Vitality Plus project this year.
[Photo by Imsil County]

According to the county on the 25th, the 2023 New Vitality Plus Promotion Team (hereinafter referred to as the Promotion Team) will promote implementation tasks equipped with capabilities and human resources centered on self-reliance to perform the role of an "integrated intermediary support organization for Imsil-gun rural policy" in connection with the existing intermediary support organization.

This is to continuously spread the achievements of "people and organizations," the core driving force of the region's self-reliant growth base.

The Rural New Vitality Plus Project was selected in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs contest in 2019 and established a basic plan in 2020, marking three years since the project was officially launched.

Compared to the general situation where various rural development projects have left only facilities without actual operation once the projects ended, the Rural New Vitality Plus Project is evaluated as a pioneering project to build a sustainable self-reliance base in rural areas.

The biggest distinguishing feature of this project is that its core is focused on discovering and nurturing "people and organizations."

The county and the New Vitality Plus Promotion Team have concentrated on three main projects over the past three years.

First, as a result of focusing on nurturing personnel, the core of the self-reliance base, a total of 272 people have completed the "Community Academy (basic course - advanced course)" education so far.

Following the education, a total of 52 communities were nurtured through the "Community Customized Support (S/W Project)," and after the software project, a total of 8 communities were supported through the "Community Activation Support (H/W)," contributing to establishing a solid foundation for genuine regional community revitalization.

Second, various education and support projects were carried out to create a hub organization connecting people.

To revitalize the on- and offline distribution of the county's agricultural specialty products, a "Youth Market" was organized, led by local youths, to operate a permanent flea market in the future, and a "Live Commerce Local Seller Group" was nurtured, creating an opportunity to bring changes in distribution within the region.

As one alternative to overcome the crisis of local extinction by transforming the existing rural tourism paradigm, 20 "Fair Tourism Experts" were trained, laying the groundwork to launch a "Fair Tourism Residents' Council" led by these experts.

Third, various hub spaces were established to ensure the sustainability of community activities.

To expand sales of community products from the New Vitality Plus Project, cafe-style sales outlets (Imsil En Cheese House) have been opened in two locations so far: Jeonju City and Imsil-gun, and the Imsil N Agricultural Specialty Product Distribution Center (local food direct store, farm restaurant, distribution center) was completed at Imsil Cheese Theme Park.

Additionally, remodeling work to convert the existing building, Imsil Happiness Sharing Center, into a "shared facility" for communities is in its final stages, and to support not only offline but also online activities, a sharing platform (Imsil ONe) was launched to contain various shared resource information of Imsil.

Based on these accumulated achievements, the Rural New Vitality Plus Project, although a single rural development project, is considered to have sufficient conditions as a pioneering project for integrated rural development.

Based on this, the county plans to use this year's New Vitality Plus Project as a stepping stone for self-reliant regional development and overcoming the crisis of local extinction.

County Governor Shim Min said, "The county has experience successfully establishing the Imsil N Cheese brand through the first and second phases of the New Vitality Project," and added, "We will work harder to build a sustainable self-reliance base within the region through the New Vitality Plus Project."

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr

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