[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Park Woo-ryang, the mayor of Sinan County, said in the new year of 2021, "We will strongly promote new growth engine industries that lead to substantial income."
Mayor Park Woo-ryang expressed his New Year's aspirations on the 31st through a New Year's address, stating, "We will steadily advance the world's largest 8.2GW offshore wind power and 1.8GW solar power development projects so that an income of about 6 million won per person can be distributed to residents in the form of a pension."
In response to the government's low-carbon green growth policy and to diversify the demand for surplus renewable energy electricity, plans are underway to establish a green hydrogen self-reliant island by promoting hydrogen cars, hydrogen ships, and fuel cells for power generation.
He will promote tidal power generation, a new renewable energy resource reflecting the regional conditions of Sinan County, which has many islands.
Additionally, as one pillar of the new growth engine business, high value-added individual oyster farming and subtropical fruit cultivation complex projects will be gradually developed.
The currently discovered 100,000-pyeong scale individual oyster farming site will be gradually expanded into the private sector to support an annual production of about 1,000 tons and income exceeding 6 billion won. Furthermore, rental farms of 2.6 hectares will be established in three towns and townships?coffee in Amtaedo, bananas in Bigeumdo, and mangoes in Jido-eup?to secure new income sources aligned with consumer trends and to discover alternative crops in response to global warming.
In particular, efforts will be concentrated on creating an island where flowers bloom all year round, making it an ecological and environmental hub. The 1004 Islands Flower Blooming Project, with lush forests and abundant flowers throughout the year, is being promoted as a core project looking ahead to Sinan County's next hundred years.
Six large islands?Jido (Lilac Park), Bigeum (Sea Buckthorn Park), Haewi (Korean Peninsula Peace Forest), Sinui (Chunlan Park), Amtaedo (Rock Park), Jangsan-do (White Park)?and 13 small islands are undergoing the "1004 Islands Park Project." This project aims to solve flood damage complaints, secure agricultural water, and create parks that serve as resting places for residents, achieving triple benefits. Waterfront parks with such effects will be continuously developed.
Moreover, evergreen forests will be planted in four coastal adjacent areas to provide windbreak effects and block fine dust, creating the Korean Peninsula Peace Forest for realizing the Blue Economy (Blue Tourism) and premium tree-lined streets for beautiful scenery. The island park project across 14 towns and townships and the designation of 1004 Islands as local gardens will also be promoted to enhance Sinan County's brand value as a sea flower garden where flowers and trees can be seen year-round.
Mayor Park said, "We will expand the visiting nurse program, which was previously assigned to towns and townships, so that the elderly can receive comprehensive health management services," and announced plans to "realize a welfare system that all residents can enjoy together."
With an investment of over 10 billion won in Aphae-eup, the Sinan County Happiness Welfare Town, including a family center and the Aphae-eup office, will be constructed to realize universal welfare where multicultural families, single mothers, single-parent families, and veterans' families can live with peace of mind.
New construction and renovation of senior centers, installation of CCTV in senior centers, replacement of old and inefficient heating and cooling systems will provide a comfortable and safe environment. Remodeling of welfare centers in Jido-eup and Aphae-eup will be promoted to provide high-quality welfare services, and the construction of the Jeungdo welfare center will be completed to ensure all elderly residents can enjoy stable welfare benefits.
In particular, the Food Bank Center project, which was previously outsourced, is now directly managed by the Welfare Foundation, greatly benefiting marginalized groups such as children at risk of hunger, elderly living alone, and homebound disabled persons. The project will be further activated to ensure that low-income groups do not suffer from shortages of food and daily necessities.
Along with this, support for women's organizations and volunteer activities, welfare facility support for the disabled, and funding for Senior Citizens' Day events will foster a warm community atmosphere where socially vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, and the disabled live together.
He said, "Since the opening of the Cheonsa Bridge, the cumulative number of tourists over one year has increased by 113% compared to the previous year, making Sinan County's islands much closer to the public for rest and travel," and added, "We will prepare for an era of 5 million tourists by building infrastructure such as land and island bridges and supplementing insufficient accommodations and restaurants."
To this end, the planned Bigeum?Chupo, Aphae?Hwawon, and Sinui?Jangsan island bridges will be completed as soon as possible. The introduction of sea taxis (Euro Taxi) will be promoted to improve accessibility to the 1004 Islands. A budget of 400 million won has been secured for a feasibility study to allow bicycle and pedestrian access on the Cheonsa Bridge, with efforts focused on completing the study and detailed design to start construction in 2023.
Additionally, to meet tourists' diverse food culture demands, representative meals of the 1004 Islands will be developed using agricultural and specialty products produced in each town and township. Efforts will be accelerated to develop specialized foods using peanuts and kudzu, selected as Jeonnam-type regional growth strategic projects with a budget of 10 billion won.
Various types of museums, which have become tourism resources and important infrastructure for the local economy, have established Sinan County's prestige. However, 12 museums that have not yet been completed will be steadily promoted with the goal of opening in 2024, aiming to make the entire 1004 Islands a beautiful art island.
Mayor Park Woo-ryang said, "As the county administration communicates with residents, administrative fairness and trust will increase, naturally opening the era of true local autonomy."
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