"Save Schools Facing Closure" ... Gyeongnam Province, Hamyang County, and LH Promote 'Rural Utopia' Project

Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (center in photo), is signing a mutual cooperation agreement on the 7th at the main conference room in Hamyang-gun for the successful promotion of the 'Rural Utopia Project.'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Gyeongsangnam-do has signed an agreement with Hamyang-gun, Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), Korea Rural Economic Institute, and Seoha Elementary School Student Recruitment Committee to solve rural problems and create a vibrant rural community.

On the 7th, Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo, along with Hamyang-gun Mayor Seo Chun-soo, LH President Byun Chang-heum, Korea Rural Economic Institute President Kim Hong-sang, and Seoha Elementary School Student Recruitment Committee Chairman Jang Won, held a mutual cooperation agreement ceremony at the Hamyang-gun main conference room for the successful promotion of the 'Rural Utopia Project.'

The Rural Utopia Project began with 'Aitopia,' aimed at saving Seoha Elementary School in Hamyang-gun, which was facing closure last year due to having only 14 students in total. Aitopia is a project where schools, private and public sectors, and companies cooperate to provide housing and job placement for parents, and benefits such as annual overseas language training and scholarships for students, thereby building a local community and revitalizing rural areas.

Following the nationwide briefing session by the Student Recruitment Committee last December, 75 households and about 140 people expressed their intention to enroll, but there were many difficulties due to a lack of housing and infrastructure.

Accordingly, Gyeongsangnam-do, Hamyang-gun, LH, Korea Rural Economic Institute, and the Seoha Elementary School Student Recruitment Committee have held five workshops and established an implementation plan to concretize the 'Rural Utopia Project.'

This project will proceed in three stages to address urgent issues such as population decline, aging, and regional decline in rural areas, aiming for harmonious development and increased vitality.

First, from this year to 2023, LH will supply 'purchase rental housing and village maintenance-type public housing' to provide 120 houses for families of students transferring to Seoha Elementary School. In the second stage, to realize a complete rural development model combining various functions such as 'work, life, and play,' the project will promote 'Living SOC projects and regional unit support projects.'

In the final stage, affordable housing for young entrepreneurs and job support housing for job creation will be supplied, and a 6th industry cluster will be established to package 'education, housing, culture/care, and jobs,' thereby establishing a system to enhance rural vitality.

The province plans to incorporate this project into provincial administration for effective implementation and actively support administrative and financial matters such as various permits and infrastructure installation when implementing project plans for each task.

Hamyang-gun will support administrative and financial matters during the construction of rental housing by LH and the establishment of the 6th industry cluster. LH will actively participate and cooperate in building rental housing for residents, workers, returnees to farming and rural areas, retirees, and in establishing the 6th industry cluster.

The Korea Rural Economic Institute will research and propose diverse and creative pilot project tasks considering the characteristics of Hamyang-gun and provide expert advice on specialized fields when establishing detailed plans such as the 6th industry cluster. The Seoha Elementary School Student Recruitment Committee will cooperate to revive the small school through the Aitopia project and create an educational and cultural community centered on the school in the rural area.

Governor Kim said, "Seoha Elementary School Aitopia is a case showing how rural areas can play a role as an educational community centered on schools," adding, "I hope it becomes an opportunity for rural areas not to be recipients of support but to create a new model of regional regeneration on their own." He also added, "Not only cities but rural areas need regeneration, and especially LH's participation in rural area regeneration has great significance in many ways."