[Interview] Jung Seokho, Head of the Rural Revitalization Center at Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency: "Rural Areas Must Become Sustainable Living Spaces"

"Rural Areas Should Become Spaces
That Create New Opportunities
and Provide a Sustainable Environment for Future Generations"

Seokho Jung, Director of the Rural Revitalization Center at Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency.

"Linking rural spatial restructuring with village development is an essential requirement for building a sustainable rural area."

Jung Seokho, Director of the Rural Revitalization Center at the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency, emphasized the necessity of rural spatial restructuring to pass on sustainable living spaces to future generations on the 25th.

Director Jung stated, "Chungnam has been a leader in promoting village development projects and supporting the revitalization of rural communities," and diagnosed, "We are now moving to the stage of establishing systematic rural policies in connection with rural spatial restructuring."

He added, "As a metropolitan support agency, the Promotion Agency will support each city and county in establishing and implementing mid- to long-term rural spatial plans."

The Rural Revitalization Center was launched in 2016 as the Village Development Support Center under the Chungnam Research Institute and was transferred to the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency in 2023.

After being designated as a metropolitan support agency for rural spatial planning in May last year, it was reorganized into its current structure.

The Center is currently building an integrated rural spatial management system, including restructuring of harmful facilities, improvement of residential environments, and creation of economic bases, and supports organic cooperation between the central government and local governments.

In the past, village development projects were led by residents, but there is now a demand to shift toward more comprehensive policies, such as restructuring of harmful facilities in rural areas and spatial utilization planning.

Notably, Chungnam Province is reorganizing and supporting village development projects that have been transferred to the local level. This is attracting attention as a strategic approach to developing rural areas into sustainable regions rather than just administrative districts.

Director Jung said, "There is a growing demand for village development, which previously focused on improving living environments, to shift toward more comprehensive policies such as spatial utilization planning and revitalization of the local economy," adding, "Rural spatial restructuring is not simply about development, but about transforming the entire rural area into a sustainable living space."

He continued, "Whereas Jeju City is pursuing rural policies in connection with tourism, the province places core value on improving the quality of life for rural residents and ensuring the sustainability of rural communities," and added, "This is a genuine rural policy direction that goes beyond simple support."

He further stated, "It reflects the philosophy that rural areas should not merely be preserved, but should become spaces that create new opportunities and provide a sustainable environment for future generations."

The Center is promoting: ▲ customized policies linking rural welfare and spatial restructuring ▲ establishment of a sustainable economic base by linking the sixth industrialization of agriculture with the rural social economy ▲ establishment of sustainable policy directions through rural spatial planning.

In addition, policies are being implemented to strengthen rural welfare services, such as elderly care, prevention of social isolation, and improvement of living infrastructure.

Director Jung said, "Our goal is to make rural areas not spaces to be neglected, but places where anyone would want to live," and added, "We will foster social economy organizations related to agriculture and rural areas, and build a system in which resources produced in rural areas can be processed, distributed, and sold."

He further stated, "We will also expand cooperation with basic rural spatial support organizations and strengthen field-oriented consulting and education to enhance policy effectiveness."

He emphasized, "We must shift toward providing sustainable living spaces for future generations through systematic spatial management and revitalization of sustainable communities," and added, "We will continue to provide support and cooperation so that Chungnam's rural areas can become a leading model nationwide."

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