Gochang-gun Selected for 'Rural Tourism Star Village Contest'... Secures 10 Billion Won

Gochang County announced on the 2nd that it has been selected for the Jeollabuk-do-led ‘Rural Tourism Star Village’ contest project, securing a total project budget of 10 billion KRW (4 billion KRW from the provincial government, 4 billion KRW from the county, and 2 billion KRW from the private sector).

This project is one of the representative agricultural and fishing village development initiatives of Jeollabuk-do during the 8th local government administration.

The county plans to create a Wine Village at the Bokbunja Recreation Area in Yongsan-ri, Buan-myeon, and promote attractive tourist destinations through cooperation among specialized villages (Yonggye, Yongsan, Jinma, Anhyeon), individual business operators, and private investors.

Gochang Government Office Exterior View
[Photo by Gochang County]

The ‘Wine Village’ is themed around Bokbunja, a specialized resource of Gochang. It will feature various wine experience facilities, a local specialty product sales center, wine exhibitions and program operations, and establish a Star Village office to promote rural tourism and brand specialized products, serving as a hub for the Star Village.

The ‘Specialized Villages’ will develop experience programs utilizing each village’s rich natural ecological landscapes, humanities resources, and local food in coordination and cooperation with the office.

Visitors will enjoy Gochang’s unique rural tourism with unobstructed open rice fields and farmland, the earthy scent filling the village, meals cooked over a traditional stove, and evenings under a sky full of sparkling stars.

Prior to this, the county prepared for the contest project by holding multiple briefing sessions and visiting exemplary cases immediately after the launch of the 8th local government administration to establish the project plan.

From the first document evaluation to the second on-site evaluation (by experts and consumers), the aspirations of local residents and individual business operators to be selected for the contest were also strong.

In particular, County Governor Shim Deok-seop and Vice Governor Noh Hyeong-su repeatedly communicated with Jeollabuk-do, explaining the necessity of the project and the will of the residents, continuing their persuasion efforts.

Governor Shim Deok-seop said, “The selection for this contest project is the result of the administration, council, local residents, individual business operators, and investors coming together as one. Through the Rural Tourism Star Village development project, we will achieve the revival of Gochang’s rural tourism and add vitality to farm incomes and the local community.”

Gochang = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr