[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, has opened the era of a historic first 600 billion KRW budget.
With County Governor Sim Min winning a third term in the local elections last June, Imsil-gun was able to accelerate many key projects that had been pursued during the 6th and 7th local administrations.
As a result, this year, along with securing the largest-ever national funding, Imsil-gun realized its first-ever 600 billion KRW budget in its history just two years after reaching the 500 billion KRW budget milestone for the first time in 2020.
In particular, the 420-meter-long suspension bridge connecting to Bungeo Island on Okjeongho Lake, a treasure of Jeollabuk-do that had only been viewed from afar for over 50 years since the construction of the Seomjingang Dam in 1965, was opened, rapidly emerging as a nationwide tourist attraction.
This is a great achievement born from Governor Sim Min’s bold drive, meticulous administrative know-how, and unwavering steadfast administration, determined to realize the Seomjingang Renaissance.
Looking back on Imsil-gun’s 2022 progress, it has steadily advanced in various fields such as creating a premium ecological tourism site in the Okjeongho area, promoting ImsilN Cheese as a food and tourism attraction, fostering a hub for the companion animal industry, developing healing tourist spots like Seongsusan and Saseondae, expanding living SOC, and strengthening the welfare safety net.
▲ Governor Sim Min’s steadfast administration on the ground... Realizing the 600 billion KRW budget era
When Governor Sim Min took office in the 6th local administration, the total budget was only about 280 billion KRW. He kept his promise to the residents to raise it to 500 billion KRW during his term, opening the first-ever 500 billion KRW budget era in 2020.
Since then, following 2021, this year also saw the initial budget surpass 500 billion KRW for three consecutive years, and with the second supplementary budget this year (656.4 billion KRW), the first-ever 600 billion KRW budget era was realized.
At this pace, it is expected that the 8th local administration will smoothly open the 800 billion KRW budget era within its term.
To secure national funding, Governor Sim Min tirelessly persuaded central government ministries and the National Assembly throughout the year, securing ordinary and special grants, and actively responding to various public contests.
In particular, the active support from National Assemblyman Lee Yong-ho, representing Imsil, and Governor Kim Kwan-young of Jeollabuk-do was a great help.
▲ Accelerating key projects with the largest-ever national budget secured
This year, with a record 140.1 billion KRW in national funding secured, several regional issues were prioritized, including comprehensive flood damage living area maintenance in Osu (48 billion KRW), comprehensive flood damage living area maintenance in Imsil (36.9 billion KRW), modernization of aging water supply networks in Imsil-gun (33 billion KRW), construction of Osu Happiness Nuri Center (15 billion KRW), rural hub revitalization project in Imsil-eup (14 billion KRW), and construction of Imsil-eup Happiness Nuri Center (12 billion KRW).
Also, for next year’s budget, active efforts to secure new national projects resulted in funding for Osu public sewage treatment facility expansion and improvement (17.1 billion KRW), aging sewer pipe maintenance in Imsil public sewage treatment area (14.8 billion KRW), natural disaster risk zone maintenance in Gangjin Singi (6.2 billion KRW), and undergrounding of school routes at Imsil Elementary School (3.5 billion KRW).
Notably, several major national public contest projects were consecutively selected. These include the Osu district urban regeneration revitalization project (21.7 billion KRW), Okjeongho national ecological trail creation (7.6 billion KRW), living condition improvement in vulnerable rural areas (Gangjin Singi, Deokchi Gagok) (3.54 billion KRW), and food material and semi-processed industry promotion (1.5 billion KRW), totaling 30 projects with 22.704 billion KRW in national funds and 1.795 billion KRW in provincial funds secured.
Securing multiple special grants (5.19 billion KRW) and special adjustment grants (3.14 billion KRW) is expected to further accelerate solving regional issues.
▲ Emphasizing Okjeongho-based projects, a treasure of Jeonbuk
The core of future growth engines to realize the Seomjingang Renaissance is Okjeongho and Bungeo Island.
Okjeongho marked a historic turning point with the opening of the 420-meter Okjeongho Suspension Bridge connecting to Bungeo Island on October 22.
Once a symbol of the hardships of Imsil residents who lost their homes due to the construction of the Seomjingang Dam, Okjeongho has been revitalized as a tourist attraction visited by numerous tourists nationwide following the opening of the suspension bridge, injecting vitality into the region.
Since its opening, over 500,000 visitors have been recorded by December. Especially, the establishment of the Okjeongho Healing Division in January last year allowed efficient promotion of ecological development projects in the Okjeongho area.
The first phase of the Seomjingang Eco Museum project (36.5 billion KRW), promoted through the Jeollabuk-do Eastern Region Special Account, is expected to be successfully completed by next year after finishing remaining projects such as the Eco Nuri Campus following the opening of the Okjeongho Suspension Bridge.
Currently, the second phase of the Seomjingang Eco Museum project (25 billion KRW) is being accelerated, including tourism resource development around Yosan Park and parking lot construction near Bungeo Island.
Additionally, Bungeo Island Ecological Park (2.4 billion KRW) has been newly refurbished, and the Okjeongho Water Culture Trail project (5 billion KRW), allowing visitors to stroll along the lakeside and heal their mind and body, is also being vigorously promoted.
Especially, securing 7.6 billion KRW in new national funding from the Ministry of Environment for the Okjeongho National Ecological Trail project is expected to accelerate the establishment of an eco-friendly ecological tourism hub.
Alongside this, the completion of the Unam Specialized Complex project (10.06 billion KRW) for creating a specialized local food restaurant complex is underway, with plans to actively promote Korean beef specialty restaurants, local food and cafes, and parking lots on the site.
However, the county is actively persuading central government ministries and political circles to open the still underdeveloped Okjeongho lakeside road and plans to dramatically strengthen tourism infrastructure by attracting large private capital for cable cars, monorails, and other facilities around Okjeongho to create synergy with the Okjeongho Suspension Bridge.
▲ Nationwide fame, strengthening competitiveness of ImsilN Cheese industry
After three years of COVID-19, the ImsilN Cheese Festival, held face-to-face last October at the Imsil Cheese Theme Park and Imsil Cheese Village, set a record with 520,000 visitors before and after the festival, along with nationwide recognition of ‘ImsilN Cheese.’
The third phase of the Imsil Cheese Food Cluster project, investing 17.2 billion KRW from 2021 to 2025, is continuously growing the Imsil cheese industry through differentiated product and food development unique to ‘ImsilN Cheese,’ fostering dairy and cheese-utilizing food companies, and strategic marketing, playing a leading role in maintaining the reputation of ‘Imsil means cheese, and cheese means Imsil.’
The Imsil Cheese History and Culture Center, honoring the late Father Ji Jeong-hwan, the father of Imsil cheese, and showcasing the history and growth of Imsil cheese, was completed and began operation in December this year.
Also, the ImsilN Cheese Agricultural Specialty Product Distribution Center (5.21 billion KRW) was built this year at the Imsil Cheese Theme Park, a representative tourist site of Jeollabuk-do, and is ready for operation. Following the seasonal rose garden project (5.6 billion KRW) completed last year, the European-style rose garden project (9.8 billion KRW) is underway, aiming for completion in 2024.
Furthermore, linking the Imsil Cheese Theme Park and Imsil Cheese Village, the ImsilN Cheese Rural Theme Park project (9.7 billion KRW), which will expand the tourism industry based on cheese to the Imsil Cheese Village, is progressing step by step with increasing achievements.
▲ Spreading companion culture, fostering a hub for the companion animal industry
Osu-myeon, the center of the Osu Legendary Story, which is even included in elementary school textbooks, is becoming a hot place for the companion animal industry.
The Osu Public Animal Burial Facility (6 billion KRW), built in 2020 with national funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is currently actively operating.
Nearby, the Osu 2nd Agricultural Industrial Complex specialized for companion animals (20.8 billion KRW) is in final construction stages with active recruitment of excellent companies, and preparations for the 3rd Agricultural Industrial Complex (17 billion KRW) have officially begun.
Centered on the Osu Legendary Tourist Site, the Companion Animal Support Center construction (8 billion KRW) and Osu Legendary Tourist Site maintenance (5 billion KRW) are underway, and the National Leisure Camping Site project (2 billion KRW), where people can enjoy with companion animals, started design work this year.
Especially, securing national funding for the World Famous Dog Theme Land project (18 billion KRW) to transform Osu-myeon into a nationwide landmark for the companion animal industry is progressing smoothly. The selection of the Osu district urban regeneration project in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s public contest has also given momentum to creating a companion animal-friendly city.
▲ Healing forest Seongsusan, building a healing tourism base
Seongsusan, which holds historical value as the founding legend site of the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, is being developed with nature-friendly forest adventure experience facilities to create a forest playground with healing and entertainment.
Along with the completed Seongsusan National Leisure Camping Site (2.2 billion KRW), projects such as Taejo Hope Forest creation (8.35 billion KRW), Seongsusan King’s Forest Ecotourism Site creation (7.2 billion KRW), Seongsusan Forest Leisure Facility creation (6 billion KRW), and Seongsusan Natural Recreation Forest supplementation (5 billion KRW) are actively promoted aiming for reopening Seongsusan next year.
The county established a dedicated team to manage and operate various facilities in Seongsusan to ensure smooth reopening next year.
▲ Actively expanding citizen-centered living SOC
By building various living SOC facilities, 12 eup-myeon centers have been newly transformed, serving as places for residents’ harmony and community gathering.
As part of the national public contest Living SOC Complex project, the Imsil-eup Happiness Nuri Center (12 billion KRW) was completed on November 17 and began full operation on November 21.
Alongside this, the construction of the Gwanchon-myeon Sports and Culture Center (7.1 billion KRW) is scheduled for completion in December this year and is about to start full operation, and the Osu-myeon Happiness Nuri Center (15 billion KRW) began construction and supervision services in November, actively promoting SOC projects for balanced regional development.
Also, the Youth Training Center function enhancement (7.6 billion KRW), the Jeollabuk-do International Archery Training Center construction (5.1 billion KRW) to help archery athletes improve skills, and the Bandari Sports Center construction (14.5 billion KRW) for the health promotion of people with disabilities are progressing step by step. The Imsil-gun Park Golf Course (6.2 billion KRW), responsible for seniors’ health, will be completed in December and begin full operation next year.
The Imsil Small Star Cinema, which had been closed due to COVID-19 and the dissolution of the consignment operator, reopened on December 5 this year under direct operation by Imsil-gun, much to the residents’ delight.
▲ Leading solutions to labor shortages, realizing a livable agriculture and rural area
The county signed an MOU with Tuyen Quang City, Vietnam, in October this year and plans to officially introduce over 100 Vietnamese foreign seasonal workers from next year, making multifaceted efforts to secure national funding for dormitory construction for workers.
This year, 53 seasonal workers, including Vietnamese marriage immigrants and their families, were introduced and operated.
Additionally, the county provided practical support to labor-shortage farms through regional agricultural machinery rental offices, work teams for barley, adlay, and summer forage, and joint pest control for rice, chili peppers, and fruit crops.
Along with increasing farmers’ income and self-reliance, the Rural New Vitality Plus project (7.47 billion KRW) to secure urban markets for high-quality agricultural specialty products was accelerated. Customized policies centered on demand, such as farmers’ public interest allowance payments, organic fertilizer support, horticultural facility improvement and material support, support for women farmers’ Saengsaeng Cards, and support for young farmers’ settlement, were actively promoted.
▲ Strengthening social safety nets and diverse welfare policies
To prevent natural disasters caused by climate change, the county fundamentally removed urban risk factors and achieved results in realizing living welfare that responds to social changes such as low birthrate and aging, emphasizing quality of life.
The Imsil flood damage living area comprehensive maintenance project (36.9 billion KRW) is actively underway, and the newly selected Osu flood damage living area comprehensive maintenance project (48 billion KRW) is progressing smoothly through resident briefings and administrative procedures. This year, new national funding was secured for the Gangjin-myeon Singi natural disaster risk zone maintenance (6.2 billion KRW).
Efforts to modernize aging water supply networks (33 billion KRW) to provide residents with clean water were accelerated, and new national funding was secured this year for Osu public sewage treatment facility expansion and improvement (17.1 billion KRW) and aging sewer pipe maintenance in Imsil public sewage treatment area (14.8 billion KRW), to be fully promoted from next year.
Welfare sharing was strengthened by supporting 8.1 billion KRW in Imsil-gun disaster basic income twice for all residents to overcome COVID-19 and restore daily life.
To overcome the low birthrate, various childbirth encouragement support projects are underway, providing childbirth incentives of 3 million KRW for the first child, 5 million KRW for the second and third children, and 8 million KRW for the fourth and subsequent children. Imsil Hospital was selected for the maternity obstetrics support project in vulnerable delivery areas (1 billion KRW) this year, and with national funding support, the maternity obstetrics department is expected to operate in full swing from next year.
Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr
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