[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The general national highway 'Smart Complex Rest Area,' which serves as a roadside resting space and a local culture and tourism promotion function, will increase by 8 locations next year.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 28th, the Smart Complex Rest Area project is a cooperative project between the central government and local governments.
Based on the project plans planned by local governments, the relevant Regional Land Management Office constructs infrastructure such as site development, and then the local governments install buildings for job creation and regional promotion, and take full responsibility for future operation.
The project target for next year is a total of 8 locations nationwide, and more than 3 billion KRW will be invested per selected rest area. The project cost is 2 billion KRW from the government, and the local governments bear the remainder.
If local governments wishing to participate in the Smart Complex Rest Area project submit application documents to the Regional Land Management Office, the final project sites will be selected by the end of February next year after evaluation.
Local governments that wish to participate can receive various consultations through an advisory group composed of experts in fields such as environment, operation, and architecture at all stages of project promotion.
The government plans to focus on evaluating local governments' willingness to promote the project, funding plans, design improvement measures, and eco-friendly facilities during this year's evaluation process. More detailed evaluation criteria will be announced through regional Land Management Offices next month.
Juhyunjong, Director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "It is important to carry out the projects of the five locations selected in April this year?Goheung-gun, Buan-gun, Okcheon-gun, Hadong-gun, and Inje-gun?without any setbacks," and added, "New projects will be carried out thoroughly to ensure that creative and concrete plans are selected."
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