Hadong County Launches Integrated Urban Regeneration and Self-Support Model

Hadong County in South Gyeongsang Province is introducing a new type of community space that combines urban regeneration with self-support initiatives.

The county announced that it will officially open the unmanned cafe "Cafe La" on the third floor of the Hadong Urban Regeneration Archive Center, which opened earlier this year, on April 29. The cafe will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will be closed every Monday and Tuesday as regular holidays.

"Cafe La" is a multi-purpose space linking urban regeneration projects with local self-support programs, and will be operated by the Hadong Local Self-Support Center. More than just selling beverages, it is being established as a "local circular community cafe" that supports resident interaction, welfare services, and the foundation for self-reliance among self-support participants.

[Photo by Hadong-gun] Interior photo of 'Cafe La'

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The Hadong Local Self-Support Center, which operates the cafe, has been supporting the economic self-reliance of vulnerable groups through various initiatives such as the cleaning and disinfection project "Bitna Uri," the food service business "Obaekguksu" and a Vietnamese restaurant, as well as the resource recycling project "Green Nuri."

In addition, it plays a key role in the local welfare delivery system through customized care services for the elderly (780 people), the basic food bank (supporting 2,713 individuals and 27 institutions), and the operation of the kids cafe "Kkum Green Teo."

The Hadong Urban Regeneration Archive Center is a core facility of the "Donggwang Village Urban Regeneration Project," which was selected in a national competition by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in 2020. The total project cost was 3.5 billion won (2.5 billion won for urban regeneration, 1 billion won from self-support funds and county budget), with a total floor area of 833.63 square meters and three floors above ground. Construction began in December 2023 and was completed in about two years.

In the Donggwang Village area, the county has also implemented various projects to improve residential conditions, such as building rental housing, supporting home repairs, and refurbishing alleyways. It has also run resident participation programs such as the "Youth Health Class" and the "Family Wood Workshop."

The opening of "Cafe La" is expected to serve as a catalyst for completing a virtuous cycle that connects the creation of physical spaces for urban regeneration, the operation of self-support programs, and community welfare.

A county official stated, "Cafe La will serve as a hub connecting the operational capabilities of the self-support center and the urban regeneration infrastructure," adding, "We aim to establish a virtuous cycle model that reinvests unmanned cafe profits into the local welfare system, thereby revitalizing the original downtown area."

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