"Building a Community Welfare Facility and Then Leasing It as Worker Housing... Ulleung Residents Perplexed"

Jangheung Village Council Faces Crisis of Losing Rural Experience and Recreation Village Status
for Pursuing Profits Beyond Intended Purpose

Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province is facing backlash from residents after the Jangheung Dalmasil Complex Center, which was built with tens of billions of won to revitalize rural and fishing villages, has been used for profit outside its intended purpose.

Ulleunggun Jangheung Dalmasil Complex Center. Photo by Kyungho An

It has been confirmed that the complex facility of the ‘Jangheung Creative Village Project’, implemented by Ulleung County as part of the regional general rural and fishing village development project, is being used for purposes other than originally intended.

This project was finalized in 2014 after being selected through an open call for general rural and fishing village development projects and evaluations by the North Gyeongsang Provincial Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. A total project cost of approximately 3.5 billion won was invested in the Sadong-ri area of Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, for the construction of a community welfare center, the creation of a recreational forest trail, and income-generating projects for residents. In November 2020, it was designated as a rural experience and recreational village, and its operation and management were entrusted to the Jangheung Village Council’s operating committee.

At the time, residents had high hopes that the newly built Jangheung Dalmasil Complex Center would become a mecca for ‘rural tourism’ on Ulleungdo by providing unique experiences such as health promotion and specialty food making.

However, contrary to expectations, it has been found that the center is currently being rented out as accommodation for equipment operation staff of the Ulleung Airport construction company.

In particular, the implementation guidelines for the general rural and fishing village development project stipulate that ‘professional commercial activities beyond the scope of the project’s purpose (using accommodation facilities for outsiders rather than for experience participants and visitors) are strictly prohibited.’

Originally, the project was initiated with subsidies for the purpose of maintaining the population and promoting specialized development in each region through the enhancement of rural and fishing village amenities and planned development. However, due to the lax management of the entrusted operator, the ‘Jangheung Village Council’, the designation as a rural experience and recreational village is now at risk of being revoked.

Regarding this, a representative of a local civic group commented, “It is unacceptable that a project, for which civil servants worked tirelessly to win funding and tens of billions of won were invested, is being used for purposes other than intended,” and emphasized, “A thorough audit of the subsidized project is necessary.”

In response, an official from the Ulleung County Agricultural Technology Center stated, “We have conducted an on-site inspection and issued an eviction order,” adding, “If the order is not followed, we will proceed with the proper administrative procedures, including revoking the designation as a rural experience and recreational village.”

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