Hapcheon County Selected for Rural Spatial Restructuring Project... Boosting Local Vitality Expected

Linking Two Specialized Districts

Improving Haphazard Development and Relocating Facilities

Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province announced on March 31 that it has been selected for the 2026 Rural Spatial Improvement Project, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The county has secured 7 billion won in project funds (3.5 billion won from national funds and 3.5 billion won from local funds) and will implement a specialized district-type rural spatial improvement project in Pyeonggu 2 District, Ssangbaek-myeon over a five-year period through 2030.

This newly selected specialized district-type rural spatial improvement project is based on the Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration Support Act, which was implemented in March 2024. The core objective is to promote the restructuring and regeneration of rural spaces by linking two or more specialized rural districts, based on the rural spatial plan established by the county. The project supports the reorganization of haphazard rural development, relocation and rearrangement of facilities within specialized rural districts.

Photos of the Rural Spatial Improvement Project at Pyeonggu 2 District, Ssangbaek-myeon, Hapcheon-gun

In Ssangbaek-myeon, the project will link two zones: the Rural Village Protection District and the Rural Convergence Industry District. In the Rural Village Protection District, the currently operating chicken coops will be demolished, and a community forest will be created to restore the rural character and improve the living conditions for village residents. In the Rural Convergence Industry District, a pet-wellness coexistence platform (including accommodation and experiential facilities) will be established, aiming to create the nation’s only pet-friendly rural spatial restructuring and regeneration model.

In addition, the county plans to create the 'Safe Dangdaeng Trail,' a pathway connecting the community forest and the coexistence platform. This trail will allow not only local residents but also visitors to the coexistence platform and pet-themed park 'Meong Stay' to harmoniously enjoy the walking route together.

Kim Yongbae, Director of Future Growth and Vitality, stated, "This selection is the result of joint efforts by Gyeongnam Province and our county to bring about rural spatial change since the implementation of the Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration Support Act. We will accelerate the project and do our utmost to enhance convenience for residents going forward."

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