Haenam-gun by the Numbers: "Local Status Changed" in the 7th Elected Term

Successful Completion with the First, Largest, and Best Records in Each Field

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Jeonnam Haenam-gun announced on the 27th that it is accelerating the successful conclusion of the 7th term of the civilian government by achieving the greatest administrative achievements in its history.

The county spent four years realizing "Shining Land’s End, Haenam Running Again," continuously renewing the first, largest, and best records in various fields of the 7th term civilian government administration.

Haenam-gun, which opened the era of local finance exceeding 1 trillion won for the first time at the county level in 2019, secured 324.5 billion won last year, the largest amount of national and provincial subsidies ever, accelerating the promotion of pending projects.

The county’s national and provincial subsidies increased by nearly 130 billion won compared to 196.6 billion won in 2017, and the execution rate also continuously improved, recording 83.9% last year, reflecting the speedy project implementation.

In particular, the county secured the National Agricultural and Food Climate Change Response Center, which will invest 407.9 billion won last year, and was selected for 127 public contest projects worth 536.9 billion won in various fields, laying a foothold for regional development. The number of public contest projects selected by Haenam-gun increased significantly every year from 43 projects worth 20 billion won in 2017 to the largest scale ever last year.

As the nation’s largest agricultural county, Haenam reaffirmed its status as a leading local government by introducing the nation’s first Farmer’s Allowance. The Farmer’s Allowance, first introduced in Haenam in 2019, was expanded to the Jeollanam-do Agricultural and Fishery Public Interest Allowance the following year, and most metropolitan local governments nationwide have either introduced or are rushing to introduce it.

Haenam-gun’s directly operated online shopping mall, Haenam Miso, increased its sales more than tenfold compared to the launch of the 7th term civilian government. Haenam Miso’s sales grew from 2.2 billion won in 2018 to 22.5 billion won in 2021, emerging as the strongest public interest shopping mall. With the establishment of the Haenam-gun 2030 Food Plan, including a local food direct store involving about 400 farms in the area and the operation of a public school meal support center, it also pioneered a blue ocean in online and offline distribution.

Last year, Haenam-gun achieved outstanding results in agriculture, including ranking first nationwide in eco-friendly certified area, 2,896 hectares of organic certification area, and the largest number of high-income farmers in Jeonnam with 720 people.

The Haenam Love Gift Certificate, introduced in 2019, the largest issuance and sales record among counties nationwide, played a role as a catalyst to overcome the COVID-19 economic crisis, and the successful hosting of the Haenam Minam Festival, which harmonized quarantine and festivals, also played a major role in revitalizing tourism.

The issuance amount of the Haenam Love Gift Certificate increased from 17 billion won in its first year to 175 billion won last year, growing more than tenfold in three years.

During the 7th term civilian government, various living infrastructure facilities such as the Haenam Senior Citizens’ Center, Veterans’ Hall, Haenam Cinema, Youth Complex Cultural Center, and Youth Dream Center were completed one after another, and the Land’s End Family Harmony Center and the Return-to-Farming and Fishing Village Stay Support Center are scheduled to be completed this year.

In particular, by completing and relocating the Haenam-gun and County Council office buildings, a long-cherished wish of Haenam residents, the beginning of a new era of the new government office building was announced, establishing a 100-year plan for Haenam’s development.

The residents’ evaluation of the clean and trustworthy county administration has also changed.

The county received the highest grade (SA) for four consecutive years in the 7th term civilian government manifesto pledge implementation evaluation, and also received the second grade for four consecutive years in the comprehensive integrity evaluation conducted by the National Human Rights Commission.

By setting this record for four consecutive years, the only one in Jeonnam, it makes the changed status of Haenam tangible.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan said, “The greatest administrative achievements of the 7th term civilian government are the result of the residents, public officials, and public-private sectors working with one heart for Haenam’s development,” and added, “I thank all residents and will continue the achievements of the 7th term to achieve stability and prosperity in the 8th term.”

Meanwhile, Haenam will hold the inauguration ceremony of the 45th County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan and the launch ceremony of the 8th term Haenam county administration at the County Square on the 1st of next month, with the administrative goal of the 8th term being “Strong Leap, Livable and Best Haenam.”

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun kh0424@asiae.co.kr