Park Woo-ryang, Shinan County Governor, Presents 2023 Budget Proposal and County Administration Direction

"I Will Make Residents Proud to Live on the Island"

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] Park Woo-ryang, Governor of Sinan County, Jeollanam-do, presented the 2023 budget proposal and the direction of county administration during the 2nd regular session of the 308th Sinan County Council held on the 21st.

On this day, Governor Park Woo-ryang stated, "While the 7th term of the elected government focused on making Sinan a desirable island, the 8th term will aim to make Sinan a place where living on the island is a source of pride and confidence."

He also cited the achievements of 2022, including securing 128.4 billion KRW in national and provincial funds through public contests, being selected as the host of the '2023 Culture Month' event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the first time among island local governments, designation of Jaeun Geo International Cultural Tourism Complex as an investment leading zone by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, attracting the Mudflat World Natural Heritage Conservation Headquarters, and expanding the renewable energy development profit-sharing system to four islands.

Since being selected as the UNWTO World’s Best Tourism Village in December last year, Purple Island has become a world-renowned attraction with an average of about 9,000 visitors weekly. Dochodo, known as the Island of Hydrangeas and the Island of Fantasy Gardens, welcomed 120,000 visitors by the end of October this year. In addition, Goi Island was selected as a desirable island to visit in 2023, inspiring dreams of becoming the second Purple Island.

Based on these achievements, Sinan County has received numerous awards in various evaluations, including the Presidential Award at the 18th Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on November 10.

Despite the difficult economic conditions in 2022, 97 donors contributed 458 million KRW in scholarships, enabling 296 students to receive 387 million KRW in scholarships, for which he expressed gratitude.

Regarding the direction of county administration in 2023, he proposed making Sinan a place where residents take pride in living on the islands by focusing on ▲ creating islands where culture blooms ▲ promoting islands with flowers in all four seasons ▲ fostering eco-friendly high-income strategic projects ▲ establishing Sinan as a global marine ecological hub ▲ expanding basic income through eco-friendly energy projects ▲ realizing equitable welfare ▲ nurturing prestigious education ▲ providing customized transportation welfare ▲ and implementing administration together with residents.

In particular, among the One Island One Museum projects, Anjwa Floating Museum, Dochodo Daiji Cultural Facility, and Bigeum Sea Cultural Facility are scheduled for completion next year. Plans include establishing the Sinan Cultural Foundation to build a comprehensive support system and oversee the completed museums.

With the goal of designating the world’s largest island national garden, efforts will be made to promote islands blooming with flowers year-round and to continuously preserve and utilize the Sinan mudflats registered as a World Natural Heritage site by preventing pollution sources in advance, aiming to develop it as Korea’s representative ecotourism destination.

To this end, Sinan County submitted a 2023 budget to the county council totaling 676.8 billion KRW, an 8.61% increase (53.7 billion KRW) from this year. The general account was increased by 7.56% to 647.3 billion KRW, and the special account was increased by 38.33% to 29.6 billion KRW.

Governor Park Woo-ryang expressed strong determination, saying, "I ask for the encouragement and cooperation of residents and council members so that the major policies planned for next year can be carried out without any setbacks, and I will devote all my efforts together with all public officials."