6 Cases Selected as Best and Excellent Examples in 3 Different Fields
Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province, in collaboration with Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's excellent regional development projects this year, including the revitalization project of Yesan Permanent Market, which was renovated and became a hot topic.
On the 10th, the Ministry of Land announced that it held a competition for excellent cases of regional development projects utilizing local resources and finally selected six outstanding cases from local governments including Yesan-gun. Regional development projects refer to initiatives led by local governments to promote autonomous regional development.
This year's competition was divided into three fields: tourism-related regional development contest, regional development planning, and industry/residential welfare. One best case and one excellent case were selected in each field, totaling six cases.
The best cases selected were ▲ Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk's 'Gujeolcho Theme Park Four Seasons Revitalization Project' (tourism-related regional development contest) ▲ Yesan-gun, Chungnam's 'Yesan Permanent Market Revitalization Public Parking Lot and Small Park Creation Project' (regional development planning) ▲ Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk's 'New Gyeongju Station Area Regional Development Project' (industry/residential welfare), among others.
Yesan Market is a place that has emerged as a 'hot place' for the MZ generation, with over 2.7 million visitors since its opening on January 9th, following the collaboration between Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province, and Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, on the 'Save Yesan Market Project.' In 2019, Baek visited his hometown Yesan and, seeing many vacant stores in the market, actively engaged in revitalizing the local economy. He redecorated Yesan Market with a time travel concept to the 1960s-1970s, developed menus using local specialties, and provided consulting to each store owner, thus rebirthing the market with a new image.
Baek also revealed on his YouTube channel, "I spent almost 2 to 3 billion won here (Yesan Market)." As the market's brand value increased and signs of rent hikes appeared, he negotiated with the local government and directly purchased some of the commercial spaces.
The excellent cases selected were ▲ Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam's 'Sky Road to the Alps Project' (tourism-related regional development contest) ▲ Boryeong-si, Chungnam's 'Boryeong Sports Park Creation Project' (regional development planning) ▲ Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam's 'Seafood Food Cluster Creation Project' (industry/residential welfare).
The six local governments selected as excellent cases in regional development projects will receive benefits such as exemption from document screening and additional points when applying for next year's 'Regional Demand Customized Support Project.'
Jang Soon-jae, Director of the Regional Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, said, "It is a time when win-win cooperation among the central government, local governments, and the private sector is necessary to respond to the crisis of local extinction," adding, "The Ministry of Land will actively support local governments, which know their regions best, to lead and implement customized projects."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
