Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu (District Mayor Kim Ikang) Balsan Village has been finally selected for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘Local Branding Activation Support Project at the Living Area Unit.’
According to Seo-gu on the 30th, this project, which is being implemented for the first time this year, aims to secure competitiveness by utilizing unique local resources and characteristics, creating a region where local residents want to live and tourists want to visit.
Seo-gu presented a project plan under the theme “You become healthy when you come to Balsan,” utilizing the entire Balsan Village as a gymnasium.
They plan to create exercise spaces throughout the village by utilizing alleys and hills, and to overlay Balsan Village with the concept of ‘health’ by placing health-related stores and healthy food.
In addition, they will establish a Local Sports Creator Support Center to promote start-ups, and develop distinctive exercise courses together with professional exercise therapists, appointing Olympic gold medalist gymnast Yang Hak-seon as the head trainer.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will support Balsan Village with a special grant of 300 million won in the first year of the project to establish a comprehensive local branding plan, and in the second year, additional project funds will be provided to ensure that competitive branding takes root.
In particular, Seo-gu plans to develop Balsan Village into a local attraction by incorporating the characteristics of Yang 3-dong’s BI (Brand Identity), “A village of memories and art that radiates youth,” linking it with various projects such as the creation of Balsan Neighborhood Park, the existing urban regeneration project of Cheongchun Balsan Village, and the establishment of themed communication paths.
Earlier, Seo-gu rebuilt the Bongbong Bridge in front of Balsan Village in May after 48 years.
The bridge was designed to evoke the image of the old Bongbong Bridge, and cultural and tourism elements such as a canopy, observatory, and night lighting facilities were added, establishing it as a new landmark of Gwangju.
Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, said, “We will use this project as a starting point to make Balsan Village synonymous with health,” adding, “If the village is overlaid with its own brand and color, people will come, alleys will be revived, and it will be an opportunity to energize the local economy.”
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dongho baekok@asiae.co.kr
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