Gochang-gun Achieves 600 Million KRW Goal for Hometown Love Donation Program with 5,000 Participants

Published 08 Jan.2024 09:42(KST)

Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 8th that it has exceeded the first-year target amount of 600 million KRW for the Hometown Love Donation Program.

As of December 31 last year, more than 5,000 donors participated in the Hometown Love Donation Program, donating approximately 600 million KRW to the region.

Sim Deok-seop, Gochang County Governor, promotes Gochang agricultural specialties. [Photo by Gochang County]

The county has focused on promoting the Hometown Love Donation Program by offering tax deductions along with return gifts composed of excellent agricultural, marine, livestock, and specialty products from Gochang.

As a result, it has garnered active support and participation from overseas residents, alumni of local schools, and related population groups.

In the early stages of implementation, donations of up to the maximum limit of 5 million KRW from local figures were predominant. From the second half of the year, as awareness of the Hometown Love Donation Program expanded, donors in their 30s to 50s, mostly office workers donating amounts in the 100,000 KRW range ahead of year-end tax settlements, accounted for 79% of all donors.

This year, the county plans to further increase participation from office worker donors by upgrading and differentiating return gifts worth about 30% of the 100,000 KRW donation, approximately 30,000 KRW.

In particular, the usage amount of points for Gochang regional return gifts has exceeded 140 million KRW, greatly contributing to the promotion and market development of local agricultural, marine, livestock, and specialty products.

The county is currently operating 78 return gift items and plans to discover additional return gifts from youth, village enterprises, and social enterprises to contribute to the mutual development of local farms through the Hometown Love Donation Program.

County Governor Shim Deok-seop said, “With the support of many hometown residents, alumni, and everyone who loves Gochang over the past year, the Hometown Love Donation Program has achieved excellent results. This year, we will introduce a designated donation system for specific fund projects and realize the donors’ aspirations for Gochang’s development through fund projects that create a happy and vibrant Gochang-gun.”