[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] A Collaboration of Stars, Fans, and Local Governments... Hadong-gun Jeongdongwon-gil

In Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, there is Jeong Dong-won-gil. Established in 2020, this road stretches 7.2 km from the Baekryeon Village roundabout in Jinkyo-myeon on the old Namhae Expressway to the Hasamcheon roundabout in Geumnam-myeon. It is a pleasant walking path where metasequoias, poppies, and cornflowers harmonize beautifully. This road was created by Hadong-gun as a new tourist attraction after the number of fans and tourists visiting the hometown of Jeong Dong-won, the "Trot Prodigy" who achieved 5th place on TV Chosun's 'Mr. Trot,' increased. Jeong Dong-won's family home is located 3.3 km along the metasequoia road from Baekryeon Village. Hadong-gun installed honorary road signs and markers on both sides of Jeong Dong-won-gil to make it easy for visitors to find. According to the honorary road naming procedure, the name can be used until May 2025, and the usage period can be extended through the Road Name Committee one month before the expiration date.

Promotional banner by Hadong County commemorating Jeong Dong-won’s donation of 5 million KRW, the annual limit for hometown love donations, in February.

Many roads are named after stars, but Jeong Dong-won-gil is even more special because of the fan club 'Uju Chong Dong-won.' The Jeong Dong-won fan club has continuously donated and volunteered out of special interest and affection for Jeong Dong-won's hometown, Hadong. The Uju Chong Dong-won Cafe on Jeong Dong-won-gil has already become a popular spot for visitors. On May 24, marking the 3rd anniversary of the declaration of Jeong Dong-won-gil, 53 fan club members collectively donated 10 million won as a donation to help neighbors in Hadong-gun. As a token of gratitude, Jeong Dong-won personally presented an autographed album and towels to Hadong-gun Governor Ha Seung-cheol. While holding the donation event, they also toured the Hadong World Tea Expo venue and major tourist sites over a 2-day, 1-night schedule.

Earlier in March, about 400 fan club members donated 30 million won for hometown love donations to support recovery from the Hadong wildfire damage and to purchase tickets for the successful hosting of the 2023 Hadong World Tea Expo. On March 19, fans who visited the Uju Chong Dong-won Cafe in Jinkyo-myeon, Hadong-gun, to celebrate Jeong Dong-won's 17th birthday cheered for overcoming the wildfire damage in Hadong, saying, "We give as much as we love." The official fan cafe on Daum Cafe, Uju Chong Dong-won, has about 31,000 members active since June 2020, and the 30 million won donation for wildfire recovery support and expo success was made possible through the voluntary participation of its members.

On May 24, Jeong Dong-won Fan Club donated a relief fund to help neighbors in Hadong-gun to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the proclamation of Jeong Dong-won-gil and took a commemorative photo with Ha Seung-cheol, the governor of Hadong-gun.
[Photo by Hadong-gun]

On the first anniversary in 2021, participants including fan club members combined a plogging event, collecting trash while walking. To accommodate visiting fans and tourists, disinfection equipment was installed at two locations along the roadside tree section, and slow mailboxes for letters to be delivered a year later were set up, along with a life-size standee of Jeong Dong-won to enhance visitor satisfaction. At the Uju Chong Dong-won Cafe, to commemorate the first anniversary of the designation of Jeong Dong-won-gil, Americano coffee was offered at a 50% discount, and participants who took photos with the standee received small souvenirs, drinks, and commemorative rice cakes.

In February, Jeong Dong-won took the first step as the top donor by contributing 5 million won, the annual limit for hometown love donations. Jeong Dong-won expressed through his agency Showplay Entertainment, "I am very happy to be able to express my interest and affection for Hadong through the hometown love donation system," and added, "I hope my hometown Hadong continues to develop."