Imsil-gun Pledges Leap into the Era of 10 Million Tourists at New Year's Ceremony

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, announced a strong start to the Year of the Rabbit with the completion of the Seomjingang Renaissance and a leap toward the era of ten million tourists.

On the 2nd, County Governor Shim Min held a kick-off ceremony marking the new beginning of Imsil’s 2023 county administration, starting with a visit to Sochungsa Shrine together with newly appointed Deputy County Governor Lee Minsook and heads of national offices and departments, delivering the message, “Let us move forward vigorously with the residents for future innovation and greater leaps.”

The ceremony was held in the cultural lecture room of the county office, attended by about 300 people including heads of main offices and departments, 12 town and township chiefs, and staff.

Governor Shim Min said, “I sincerely thank everyone for their united efforts and the achievements made last year,” adding, “Last year, we achieved a record-high final budget of 664.3 billion won, and the new year’s main budget is 526.1 billion won, making the era of an 800 billion won budget possible in the future.”

He continued, “The Year of the Rabbit 2023 is the second year of the 8th elected term, and with the bold ambition to ‘open the era of ten million tourists in Imsil,’ I ask all staff to unite and work harder to secure the county’s development and future growth engines.”

This year, plans include developing Seomjingang Okjeongho into the nation’s top ecological tourism site, completing a four-season themed tourist destination by establishing the Imsil Cheese Theme Park as a landmark for cheese experience tourism with a European-style rose theme park, a large kids’ land, and digital content for Imsil cheese.

Additionally, starting this year, projects include the construction of the World Famous Dog Theme Land with a total of 18 billion won in national funding, a pet-specialized Osu district urban regeneration project, the creation of the national tourist site Saseondae leisure camping ground, and transforming Seongsusan, the King’s Forest, into an experiential forest healing and recreational destination.

Alongside these, efforts will be made to alleviate rural labor shortages by expanding seasonal Vietnamese workers, improving agricultural welfare and environment through the construction of an agricultural workers’ hall, and promoting customized economic policies such as creating specialized food streets in Imsil traditional market, publicizing Osu Market, and building a multifunctional complex building on the site of the old Jeil Theater in Imsil-eup.

There will also be a strong focus on expanding social welfare safety nets for the elderly and vulnerable groups, supporting multicultural families, and enhancing disaster and safety responses such as flood control in Imsil and Osu living areas, ensuring no neglect in tailored welfare and safety reinforcement.

Governor Shim said, “I ask all staff to devote their passion to solidly implementing key policies and achieving results throughout the year,” and pledged, “In the new year, I will do my utmost so that all residents can live prosperously and happily, taking pride in living in Imsil.”

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr