Yeosu Hwayang Okjeok Village Selected as an Organic Ecological Village

Published 31 May.2023 13:48(KST)

Contributing to Increased Resident Income by Revitalizing Rural Tourism Attractions

Okjeok Village in Hwayang-myeon, Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do, is expected to become a rural tourism attraction as it has been selected as an Organic Ecological Village designated by Jeollanam-do.

According to the city on the 31st, Jeollanam-do annually designates regions geographically suitable for practicing eco-friendly farming as Organic Ecological Villages to promote the spread of organic farming and increase residents' income.

Okjeok Village in Hwayang-myeon, Yeosu City, has been selected as an organic ecological village designated by Jeollanam-do. <br>Photo by Yeosu City

Okjeok Village in Hwayang-myeon, Yeosu City, has been selected as an organic ecological village designated by Jeollanam-do.
Photo by Yeosu City

Okjeok Village in Hwayang-myeon was recently finalized as an Organic Ecological Village through document review and expert field evaluation, receiving support for office manager activity expenses to operate, manage, and promote the Organic Ecological Village.

It also qualifies to apply for a 500 million KRW Organic Ecological Village Development Project and a 40 million KRW Organic Ecological Village Revitalization Project.

Thus, Okjeok Village is expected to be reborn as a rural tourism attraction by utilizing organic farming experience sites, significantly contributing to the improvement of residents' income.

The designation criteria for an Organic Ecological Village require that the village practices eco-friendly farming on more than 10 hectares by at least 10 farming households, with an organic cultivation ratio of 30% or higher.

In Okjeok Village, 35 out of 57 farming households have received certification for 35.4 hectares of eco-friendly agricultural products, of which 32.7 hectares are organic rice cultivation, accounting for 92% of the total eco-friendly certified area.

There is also the Yeosu City Artists' Village, utilizing nearby reservoirs and a closed school, which is known to have received high evaluations as an environmentally friendly village harmonized with natural scenery.

A city official stated, “We will continue to strive for additional designation of Organic Ecological Villages to promote eco-friendly farming and improve residents' income through village communities.”

Meanwhile, Okjeok Village plans to commercialize field crops such as corn, cabbage, and peas certified as eco-friendly and sell them through local food and direct transactions.