Gurye-gun Invests 13.1 Billion Won for Customized Lifelong Happy City

Opening an Era of Personalized Lifelong Happiness for Everyone

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok] Jeollanam-do Gurye-gun announced that it will invest 13.1 billion KRW this year to leap forward as a lifelong happiness city that everyone can enjoy.

The county will invest 2 billion KRW in remodeling the Maechun Library to expand lifelong vocational education for residents' restart and to nurture local creators, aiming to establish the foundation for designation as a lifelong learning city.

To actively respond to the crisis of small school closures and population decline, in December 2020, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and Jeollanam-do Office of Education signed a business agreement to attract rural students, and so far, 105 students from 71 households have participated in rural study programs.

This year, they plan to attract 80 households of students.

Additionally, 4 billion KRW will be invested in the old Gyesan Branch School, purchased in 2021, to create a rural study town and actively attract rural students.

To prevent academic gaps between Gurye students and urban students, a joint agreement was signed with Gangnam-gu Office in Seoul to share internet CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) broadcasting, supporting 450 middle and high school students with internet CSAT broadcasts.

For 500 first-year students in elementary, middle, and high schools, 200,000 KRW per person will be provided as enrollment preparation funds, and Edu Bus and Edu Taxi services will be supported for safe and convenient commuting to and from school.

To provide integrated family services centered on the region, 4.5 billion KRW will be invested to build a Happy Family Complex Center, supporting customized family services such as family care and serving as a complex space for meetings and communication.

Infant allowances will be expanded to parental benefits, providing 700,000 KRW per month for infants aged 0 and 350,000 KRW per month for those aged 1, significantly easing the burden in early childbirth and parenting stages.

Single-parent families will have their eligibility expanded from below 52% of median income to below 60%, supporting child-rearing expenses, child education support, and living allowances. For children at risk of food insecurity, meal support rates will be increased from 7,000 KRW to 8,000 KRW to help them grow healthily.

For youth preparing for independence (former protective children), the independence allowance will be increased from 350,000 KRW to 400,000 KRW per month to promote stable social settlement.

Meanwhile, Maechun Library will implement a morning reading service for 500 residents, providing summaries of domestic and international books and the latest trends via smartphones. They will also hold the 'Gurye Book Festival,' where various reading programs such as lectures, performances, and experiences themed around books can be enjoyed, greatly expanding customized cultural welfare services.

County Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “We will do our best to create a society where anyone, regardless of age or gender, can leap forward anytime through lifelong learning,” and added, “To move toward a happy society, I hope we all understand each other and form a warm local community.”

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr