Yeongju City Raises 100 Million Won in Hometown Love Donations... Revitalizing Punggi Commercial District Through Urban Regeneration

by Jo Chunghyeon

Published 10 Mar.2025 13:21(KST)

Updated 31 Jul.2025 23:13(KST)

Promotion of the Digital Treasure Hunt Project Using Smartphones

Yeongju City (Mayor Park Namseo) announced on the 10th that it is conducting a fundraising campaign to collect 100 million KRW in designated hometown love donations to promote the "Digital Treasure Hunt Using Smartphones" project aimed at revitalizing the commercial district around the Punggi-eup station area.

The goal of this project is to introduce an experiential program utilizing smartphones to the Punggi-eup station area, which has been losing vitality due to population decline, in order to increase visitors' stay time and boost the local economy.

Visitors can use the "Digital Treasure Hunt" application (app), which incorporates the latest digital immersive technologies (NFC, QR, AR), to visit shops and key locations in the Punggi area and complete various missions. This program will be operated in a gamification format, where users are rewarded for their participation, providing a unique and enjoyable experience.

The city will collect a total of 100 million KRW in designated donations until December 31, and the funds will be used for: △ developing the smartphone application and server △ operating the treasure hunt program △ creating immersive treasures △ promotion and providing rewards to visitors.

Donations can be made through the WieGive website under the Hometown Love Donation Program.

Park Namseo, Mayor of Yeongju, stated, "Through this designated hometown love donation project, we expect to revitalize the Punggi area and contribute to boosting the local economy," and added, "We ask for the interest and participation of many people."

This project is scheduled to operate from January to December 2026, providing content that incorporates the history and culture of the region, including Punggi-eup's major tourist attractions and the Punggi-eupchi Dullegil, offering visitors a new experience.

A digital treasure hunt project using smartphones will be promoted to revitalize the area around Punggi-eup Station.