Pledge Fulfillment Rate 30%... Opening of the 500 Billion Won Main Budget Era
Leading the Way in Introducing Immersive Content and Becoming a Stay-Type Tourist Destination
Lee Sang-ik, the mayor of Hampyeong County, Jeollanam-do, who is operating the county administration under the banner of ‘A New Leap, Hopeful Hampyeong,’ has marked the first anniversary of his inauguration for the 8th term of direct election.
Over the past year, Mayor Lee has been working tirelessly to keep his promises to the residents with goals such as ‘Hampyeong where citizens live well,’ ‘Hampyeong favorable for businesses,’ and ‘realizing innovative and tangible administration.’
Despite difficult circumstances such as rising prices and economic recession, his active efforts to revitalize the local economy and promote regional development have been evaluated as laying the foundation for creating a newer Hampyeong County than ever before.
In particular, the pledge fulfillment rate reached 30% within one year of the 8th term inauguration, indicating smooth administration of the county.
The fulfillment rates by sector are 41% in culture, tourism, and sports; 37% in health and welfare; 32% in education and administration; 31% in the local economy; 26% in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries; and 13% in transportation and SOC.
◆ Establishing a Future Growth Foundation to Drive Change
First, Hampyeong County has laid a solid foundation for the leap forward in the 8th term.
The 8th term pledges were finalized with an investment of 515.1 billion KRW in 59 projects across six major sectors.
Particularly, the focus was on developing the Bitgreen Industrial Complex into an automobile industry hub, improving the distribution structure of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, and creating a stay-type tourism city.
Also, the county budget for 2023 reached 511.9 billion KRW, marking the first time the county’s main budget exceeded 500 billion KRW. By securing 181.4 billion KRW in government funds, the national treasury budget was secured at an all-time high, accelerating the promotion of current issues.
A ‘Hampyeong Vision 2030 Mid- to Long-Term Comprehensive Development Plan’ was established to proactively and actively respond to rapidly changing environments such as low birthrate, aging population, and population decline. Through this, the future vision and mid- to long-term development strategies for Hampyeong County were presented.
◆ Leading the Leap to a Four-Season Stay-Type Tourist Destination
Known as the ‘Land of Festivals,’ Hampyeong County is transforming from the limitations of temporary local festivals such as the ‘Butterfly Grand Festival’ and the ‘Korea National Chrysanthemum Exhibition’ into sustainable ‘stay-type tourism.’
To this end, immersive tourism content has been actively introduced.
The ‘Natural Ecology Science Museum’ was renovated using AR (Augmented Reality) and interactive media, and a VR experience center was operated within Expo Park, offering 12 types of VR and 2 types of AR experiences.
During the Butterfly Grand Festival, a ‘media facade’ was presented, and during the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition, a ‘drone light show’ was held, providing rich nighttime attractions and receiving favorable reviews.
Additionally, to expand stay-type tourism resources, eco-friendly accommodations such as Dolmeori Auto Camping Site and Jupo Hanok Village guesthouses were revitalized.
Especially, a large-scale investment agreement was signed to build stay-type tourism infrastructure.
First, Cantata Golf Resort Co., Ltd. plans to invest 72 billion KRW to build an 18-hole golf course on a 962,860㎡ site in Geumgye-ri, Haebo-myeon.
Cantata Golf Resort Co., Ltd. is expected to contribute to creating over 120 new jobs through golf course development, in line with expanding the golf population base.
Hampyeong Ellice Country Club Co., Ltd. plans to invest 60 billion KRW to expand facilities near the currently operated golf course (Gokchang-ri, Hakgyo-myeon), including an 84-room accommodation facility, a golf practice range, and a large swimming pool.
Through the expansion of accommodation facilities, it is expected to create over 60 new jobs and significantly contribute to building a stay-type tourism base, which is a key focus of Hampyeong County.
Furthermore, the ‘Hampyeong Drive-in Theater,’ regarded as a representative case of innovative administration under Mayor Lee, continues to be loved as a cultural landmark by nearby residents.
It notably won awards such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Public Institution Innovation Excellence Case, Jeollanam-do’s Outstanding Case of Non-Tax Revenue Generation, and the Excellent Award at the Very Good Local Autonomy Policy Competition.
◆ Contributing to Improvement of Rural Living Environment and Activation of Livestock Product Processing and Distribution
Since most residents of Hampyeong County are engaged in primary industries, efforts to create a better environment for farmers have been intensified.
From 2023 to 2027, a ‘Rural Agreement’ was signed to promote linkage and complexification of general rural and fishing village development projects through agreements between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and cities/counties.
Through this, projects such as the Haebo-myeon Rural Hub Revitalization Project, Hakgyo-myeon and Nasan-myeon Basic Living Base Projects, Village Making Projects, and Daedong-myeon Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Projects are planned.
Selected for the Rural Space Maintenance Project contest, by 2027, approximately 18 billion KRW (9 billion KRW national funds, 2.7 billion KRW provincial funds, 6.3 billion KRW county funds) will be invested in Dongjeong-ri, Singwang-myeon, to develop residential complexes, demolish harmful facilities, maintain village communal facilities, and improve village roads and other environments.
Also, Baeknyeon Village in Hampyeong-eup and Deoksan Village in Wolya-myeon were selected for the ‘2024 Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project,’ with 2.1 billion KRW and 1.7 billion KRW respectively allocated over four years from 2024 to 2027.
Through this selection, projects such as village housing maintenance, slate roof improvement, village environment enhancement, and human care will be implemented.
Additionally, the ‘Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative Livestock Product Distribution Center,’ responsible for processing and smooth distribution of Hampyeong livestock products, was completed, equipped with facilities for non-face-to-face distribution of livestock products and meal kit production.
The center has the latest facilities capable of producing 5,000 heads of Korean beef carcasses annually and 4,000 packs of processed products such as beef soup daily, and produces and distributes processed foods using Hampyeong Cheonji Korean beef.
In line with the steady growth of the meal kit industry due to the increase in single-person households, plans are underway to introduce premium meal kits such as beef bulgogi and mille-feuille nabe.
Moreover, Hampyeong Livestock Cooperative became the first in the nation to attract a low-methane forage comprehensive distribution center.
By establishing a low-methane forage production system through this center, it plans to build an efficient and sustainable production system for Korean beef farmers.
With a target completion this year, the center is supported with 18 billion KRW, including 5.4 billion KRW in national funds.
◆ Realizing a Safe Community and Warm Welfare Society for Residents
Hampyeong County has promoted disaster prevention projects to establish a safety net for residents.
These include flood response projects in Hampyeong-eup, Hakgyo-myeon, and Wolya-myeon (69.5 billion KRW), natural disaster risk improvement district projects in Singwang-myeon and Haebo-myeon areas (50.2 billion KRW), and flood damage living area maintenance in Naegyo and Gigak districts (43.6 billion KRW).
To create a Hampyeong where everyone lives well, hope welfare policies have been expanded.
First, scholarships for nurturing talent were increased from once to twice a year so that local students can focus on their studies without worrying about tuition, with support up to 6 million KRW regardless of regional classification.
The ‘100 Won Happy Taxi,’ which serves as transportation for residents in inconvenient areas, expanded its service area from 59 to 74 regions.
Veterans’ allowance support also increased from 70,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW.
To address the low birthrate issue, support is provided as follows: 3 million KRW for the first child, 5 million KRW for the second, 7 million KRW for the third, and 10 million KRW for the fourth, with an annual childcare support fund of 600 million KRW.
For expanding health and welfare infrastructure, a health promotion-type Wolya Health Center was newly built, and expansion of the infectious disease management center is underway to protect residents from infectious diseases.
Mayor Lee Sang-ik said, “I have been able to be here thanks to the trust and support of the residents from the latter half of the 7th term through the 8th term,” and pledged, “I will serve as a volunteer who thinks only of Hampyeong’s development and carry out my duties with integrity.”
He added, “Over the past year, I have worked passionately to fulfill the promises made to the residents,” emphasizing, “During the remaining term, I will vigorously advance together with the residents and public officials to create ‘a newer Hampyeong, a more prosperous Hampyeong.’”
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