Gurye-gun Wins Excellence Award at Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition

Published 21 Nov.2023 11:14(KST)

Recipient of the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award in Regional Economy

20% Annual Sales Increase Through Scientific Administration

Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on November 16 that it received the Excellence Award in the regional economy category at the 19th Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Hankook Ilbo annually host the Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition to solicit and select outstanding policies from local governments nationwide and promote their spread across the country.

[Photo by Gurye-gun]

This year, excellent policies in eight categories from six ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, were selected and awarded. Gurye-gun received the Minister’s Commendation in the regional economy category from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Since 2020, Gurye-gun has annually analyzed big data on local annual sales and floating population, reflecting the results in major policy decisions in the eco-tourism sector. As a result, compared to before COVID-19 (2019), the number of annual visitors increased by 9% and sales rose by 20% in 2022.

This year, Gurye-gun held its first 300-ri Cherry Blossom Festival, attracting approximately 1.1 million visitors in March alone, an 80% increase compared to the previous year.

Big data analysis objectively confirmed that 69% of Gurye-gun’s annual sales in 2022 were generated by the external living population (tourists, etc.).

In particular, sales were concentrated during March to April when Sansuyu (Cornus officinalis) and cherry blossoms bloom, summer vacation season, and autumn foliage season, due to many tourists visiting to enjoy natural ecological resources such as spring flowers.

Accordingly, the county is working to preserve its county tree, the Sansuyu tree, by restricting the removal of old trees and striving for registration as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

Additionally, it is cooperating with Hwaeomsa Temple on events such as the Hongmaehwa (red plum blossom) photo contest and successor tree cultivation, and is expanding eco-tourism resources by creating flower paths along the Seomjin River throughout the four seasons.

County Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “Big data analysis has made major policy decisions easier,” and added, “We will discover local intellectual properties within the region and enhance their value to meet the demands of the citizens visiting our county.”