Gangjin-gun 'Gangjin Pum-ae No.1' First Returning Family Moves In

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Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kang Jinwon) has marked a new chapter in population influx as the first returning family moved into ‘Gangjin Pum-ae No. 1,’ a public rental housing created through the vacant house remodeling project and childcare allowance policy.

According to the county on the 30th, the first returning family moved into ‘Gangjin Pum-ae (愛) No. 1,’ a public rental housing established through the vacant house remodeling support project to attract urban residents during the 8th local government term.

At the move-in ceremony held on the 29th, about 50 people, including residents of Jangdong Village in Gangjin-eup, Governor Kang Jinwon, and related officials, attended to celebrate the family’s arrival.

The returning family shared warmth by distributing traditional rice cakes prepared for the move-in to the residents, creating a heartwarming scene.

Gangjin County Governor Kang Jin-won is delivering a welcome speech at the Gangjin Pum-ae No. 1 move-in ceremony.
[Photo by Gangjin County]

Gangjin-gun’s ‘Vacant House Remodeling Support Project’ is a groundbreaking policy that remodels vacant houses in rural areas within the jurisdiction and operates them as public rental housing for 5 to 7 years to attract urban residents, renting the houses to prospective returnees at a very low monthly rent of just 10,000 KRW.

This initiative is a twofold solution aimed at resolving the issue of neglected vacant houses in rural areas and attracting urban populations to counter the crisis of regional extinction, and it is a key focus of Gangjin-gun.

The first family to move into the remodeled vacant house, Gangjin Pum-ae No. 1 resident Jeong Ran (39, female), returned to rural life from Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, with her son who is less than a year old, and currently runs an online business specializing in handmade cookies.

Jeong plans to open a music academy in Gangjin soon, leveraging her experience of running a music academy in Gwangju for 8 years, where she produced many successful students admitted to prestigious arts middle and high schools.

Jeong Ran said, “I chose Gangjin-gun because of its outstanding childbirth and childcare support policies, including the nation’s highest level of childcare allowances and birth grants, as I plan to have four more children. My husband and mother-in-law, currently residing in Gyeonggi-do, are also expected to move to Gangjin in the first half of this year.”

Choi Kwang-su, head of Jangdong Village in Gangjin-eup, where the first returning family moved in through the vacant house remodeling support project, said, “I am pleased that a young family with a baby about to turn one has moved in, bringing life back to our once quiet rural village. I will gladly help them settle in smoothly with a warm heart as if they were my own family.”

The county offers exceptional housing support benefits, including up to 30 million KRW for remodeling vacant houses for long-term rental or owner-occupied use, and up to 30 million KRW for new house construction.

In particular, an additional 20 million KRW is provided to Puso (Farm Stay) operators, allowing a maximum support of 50 million KRW when combined with the vacant house remodeling support project. Furthermore, return-to-farming settlement funds of 20 million KRW, aged kimchi business support of 20 million KRW, and support for vinyl greenhouses can be received simultaneously, enabling up to 70 million KRW in total support when relocating to Gangjin and operating these projects.

Additionally, Gangjin-gun provides the nation’s highest and longest-lasting childcare allowance of 600,000 KRW per month regardless of parents’ income or number of children, and supports rural study programs with 300,000 KRW per student.

Governor Kang Jinwon stated, “Gangjin-gun not only offers exceptional housing support but also provides comprehensive assistance in areas such as jobs and childcare, greatly helping urban residents settle in Gangjin. We hope many people dreaming of a new life, wanting to spend more time with their children or change careers to new industries, will take an interest.”

Meanwhile, the county provides comprehensive information on population influx policies related to housing and jobs through the ‘Gangjin-gun Return-to-Farming and Return-to-Rural One-Stop Service’ available on the county website and via telephone consultation.

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