Hwasun-gun Holds Early Mine Closure Economic Promotion Project Plan Report Meeting

Transition from Coal Industry to Eco-Friendly Healing Tourism Industry

On the 20th, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it held an interim report meeting for the establishment of an economic promotion project plan for early closed mine areas.

Presided over by County Governor Gubokgyu, about 30 people attended the meeting, including the vice governor, Jeollanam-do council members, county council members, public officials, Dong-myeon Closed Mine Countermeasure Council, and Korea Mine Reclamation Corporation.

Comprehensive Master Plan for Early Mine Closure Areas (Draft) [Photo by Hwasun-gun]

The interim report meeting proceeded with the agenda of discovering strategic industries to replace the Hwasun mining site, aiming to transform from the coal industry to an eco-friendly healing tourism industry. This includes securing complex experiential tourism complexes with visitor stay, experience, culture, tourism, and relaxation spaces, establishing regional specialized industrial complexes, and renewable energy complexes, securing national funds for land acquisition costs, and pre-maintenance plans for alternative industries for tunnel facilities, followed by a Q&A session.

There were significant concerns about tunnel maintenance after mine closure. Until the end of this year, maintenance will be handled by Korea Coal Corporation, and from next year, by Korea Mine Reclamation Corporation. Hwasun-gun is strongly urging the government to maintain the tunnels in their current state until alternative industries utilizing the tunnels are discovered.

Additionally, regarding the private investment portion of the total project cost of 564.3 billion KRW, the county plans to actively promote private investment attraction by securing letters of intent from investors or signing MOUs until the preliminary feasibility study is completed.

The county will actively review the opinions presented at this interim report meeting and any subsequent opinions for possible adoption.

Especially, since land acquisition is the top priority for smooth strategic industry promotion, the application for a preliminary feasibility study for 87 billion KRW in national funds has been completed.

The county plans to do its best to ensure that national funds support the land acquisition costs.

The economic promotion project plan establishment service for early closed mine areas was commissioned by Korea Mine Reclamation Corporation, started in April, and is scheduled to be completed by October next year.