Gyeongbuk Cheongsong-gun, Creating a Happy Urban Environment Where Residents Live Well

Establishing a High-Quality Residential Base and Foundation for Living Economy

Revitalizing Local Economy, Issuing Local Currency, and Creating Jobs

A view of Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk. This year, Cheongsong-gun will embark on a project to create a happy urban environment that is good for its residents.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, has announced a detailed plan with directions for county administration focusing on urban regeneration and the affluent lives of residents.

Cheongsong-gun set the New Year's goal of creating a "Happy Cheongsong with Residents" under the slogan of building an urban environment, revitalizing the local economy, and creating jobs.

The county established this year's administrative direction as "Transformation through Urban Regeneration, Vibrant Economy, and Happy Lives of Affluent Residents with Abundant Jobs," and announced detailed implementation plans on the 5th.

The county plans to implement policies covering all areas of urban economy and jobs, including expanding convenient living facilities for residents, creating a pleasant urban environment, regenerating old and deteriorated urban areas, revitalizing the local economy weakened by population decline, issuing Cheongsong Love Currency, and creating youth jobs.

It will invest 9.3 billion KRW in 273 resident-demand projects such as village road paving, farm road paving, and stream maintenance, focusing on areas causing inconvenience to daily life. The county will boldly resolve long-standing local demands and ensure thorough restoration of areas damaged by Typhoon "Omais."

Long-delayed urban planning facility projects within the urban planning zones of Cheongsong-eup and Jinbo-myeon will also be actively promoted. This aims not only to prevent indiscriminate development in urban planning zones but also to build a stable residential foundation for residents through systematic urban development.

Plans have also been made to renew the deteriorated downtown area through urban regeneration projects.

Cheongsong-gun's Jinbo Jinan District Urban Regeneration New Deal Project was selected in 2020 as a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport public contest project, and the project has been actively underway since last year.

With a budget of 13 billion KRW invested in the Jinbo-myeon Jinan-ri area, the project includes constructing a new complex community center, remodeling the settlement support center, creating a guesthouse-themed street, improving safe living streets, remodeling public buildings, and conducting house repair projects in Jinbo-myeon Jinan-ri, all scheduled through 2024.

Last year, the Cheongsong Geumgok District, a dangerous building area, was selected as an urban regeneration recognized project, and by 2023, 8.3 billion KRW will be spent to create the "5080 Youth Life Complex Community Center." The county plans to operate youth programs here to improve urban services within residential areas and support social integration and community revitalization centered on the middle-aged generation.

Additionally, with a budget of 14.7 billion KRW, an underground wiring project will be carried out in Jinbo-myeon Jinan and Gaksan-ri by 2023. By burying utility poles and communication poles, the county aims to create streets without overhead wires, improve the pleasant urban environment, and secure safe pedestrian spaces through sidewalk replacement.

Measures to revitalize the local economy have also been prepared. To support self-employed and small business owners struggling due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, special guarantee funds and interest subsidies on loans will be provided to ensure business stability. Furthermore, the county will independently provide customized disaster relief funds for small business owners to invigorate the stagnant economic activities.

Last year, the "Cheongsong Love Currency," which greatly helped the local economy by revitalizing neighborhood commercial districts under difficult circumstances, will be issued again this year with about 60 billion KRW. Various policy allowances such as farmers' subsidies, agricultural product delivery fees, and disaster relief funds will be supported through Cheongsong Love Currency to promote consumption and aid in commercial district recovery.

Projects that dramatically improve environmental conditions and residential living conditions will also be promoted. A pilot project to supply individual LPG small storage tanks at the village level will be implemented. With a budget of 300 million KRW, it will be carried out based on 100 households.

Investing 1.1 billion KRW in the rural village LPG small storage tank supply project, LPG pipeline networks will be installed in 94 households in Shingi 1-ri, Pacheon-myeon, providing energy welfare at the level of city gas.

To assist employment and livelihood stability for vulnerable groups facing difficulties in finding jobs, the county will actively engage in job creation projects. It plans to invest 569 million KRW in public job projects and 22 million KRW in excellent companies creating youth jobs to generate regionally tailored employment opportunities.

Additionally, a budget of 255 million KRW has been prepared to provide employment and start-up opportunities for unemployed youth. Companies that discover and hire local talent will receive incentives covering 50% of the monthly wages to prevent youth outflow and address employment issues.

Yoon Kyung-hee, Cheongsong-gun governor, said, "We will expand practical resident-centered living convenience facilities, promote a pleasant and clean urban environment, and implement urban regeneration projects to create a livable and vibrant Cheongsong-gun."