Hamyang-gun Unveils Various Future Development Policies for a Strong Leap Forward

Actively Responding to Population Extinction Risks through Youth and Regional Vitality Projects

Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, carried out an organizational restructuring in January to respond to various administrative demands, which included renaming three departments, establishing a health center division, and creating six new teams.

In particular, by reorganizing the existing Innovation Strategy Officer into the newly established Future Development Officer, the entire process from planning to implementation of large-scale public projects such as the Rural Agreement and the Local Extinction Response Fund is now managed by a single department. This measure was taken to respond to internal and external crises such as low birth rates and aging populations and to prepare for a vigorous leap forward for the future of Hamyang-gun.

Gyeongnam Hamyang County Office.

◆ Government Public Project Funding Secured 56.1 Billion KRW from January to End of June

The Future Development Officer focused on government public projects to secure future growth engines through national and provincial funding, achieving a 100% selection rate in public contests.

First, they were selected for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Rural Agreement contest, securing a total project budget of 39.7 billion KRW.

Through this, plans are underway to establish the Hamyang-eup Youth Complex Cultural Center, as well as the Macheon-myeon Multipurpose Complex Center and the Yurim-myeon Residents’ Autonomous Center to supplement vulnerable living services such as culture, education, and welfare.

Additionally, four villages were selected for the Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project, securing 8.7 billion KRW, and 5.7 billion KRW was secured through selection for the Rural Space Maintenance Project, totaling 14.4 billion KRW to renovate harmful facilities in vulnerable villages in Baekjeon, Seosang, Anui, and Sudong-myeon and to build living safety infrastructure.

This is expected to create synergy with the detailed projects of the Rural Agreement, giving momentum to the restructuring of rural spaces in Hamyang-gun.

◆ Promotion of Regional Development and Rural Agricultural and Fishing Village Development Projects

The rural development projects selected through the Rural Agreement and others are directly implemented by the Future Development Officer. This structure allows for consistent management from start to finish, maximizing efficiency.

Currently, township-level projects are underway with a total budget of 13.9 billion KRW, including the Anui-myeon and Sudong-myeon Basic Living Base Development Projects. Village-level projects include the Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project with a total budget of 9.5 billion KRW being implemented in five villages, and the Village Making Project with a total budget of 2.8 billion KRW being carried out in eight villages.

Furthermore, regional development projects aimed at revitalizing the local economy are also being promoted. A representative project is the construction of a connecting road to the Nongwoljeong tourist site, where public opinion is being gathered through resident briefings and administrative procedures are underway. This is expected to increase traffic convenience for visitors and stimulate the local economy.

Township and village-level rural development projects are expected to significantly contribute to building regional infrastructure and balanced development.

◆ Collecting Resident Opinions and Establishing Mid- to Long-Term Population Policies to Actively Respond to Local Extinction

Efforts are also underway to continue the success of last year’s Local Extinction Response Fund, which achieved an A grade with 21 billion KRW secured. Through surveys of emigrants and a population vitality idea contest, residents’ opinions were broadly collected to establish a five-year plan to respond to population decline, which will form the backbone of mid- to long-term population policies.

Additionally, a 2024 Local Extinction Response Fund Investment Plan, including seven projects such as the New Worker Smart Farm Village, has been established, and step-by-step progress is being made with the goal of securing an S grade fund of 14.4 billion KRW.

Various projects are also being promoted to create youth jobs and establish a foundation for regional settlement, such as the Youth Village Making Support Project and the Youth Regional Living and Migration Settlement “Let’s Live in Hamyang” Support Project.

In particular, with the selection of the youth village shared housing project “Cohousing Palangpalang Hamyang,” 2 billion KRW in project funds have been secured to create shared accommodations, kitchens, and offices where young people from outside can settle.

▲ Proactive Response to Extinction Threat through Regional Vitality Projects

Regional vitality projects selected through the Local Extinction Response Fund are also directly implemented within the department. A representative example is the establishment of the Hamyang Nui Center, which integrates care, education, job support, and cultural welfare functions. With a total project budget of 19.9 billion KRW, it will be built on the Hamyang-gun office site, improving satisfaction for the resident population and enhancing the settlement willingness of incoming residents.

Regional vitality projects linked to jobs are also being promoted. Examples include the existing Rural Utopia Project, the “Worker-in Hamyang Project” to create purchased rental housing for corporate workers, and the “Baekdudaegan Garden N Cafe with Youth,” which combines housing, jobs, and startups.

These projects serve as new models for responding to local extinction through cooperation among the private sector, government, and public institutions, becoming benchmarks for many local governments.

Regional vitality projects are expected to offer new hope not only to current residents but also to future generations of youth.

County Governor Jin Byeong-yeong said, “We are gathering various ideas and implementing diverse policies to meet the needs of residents amid rapidly changing administrative environments,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to repay the trust of our residents and create a Hamyang that leaps forward.”

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