Goheung-gun Sets New Vision to Achieve Population of 100,000 by 2030

Presenting a Future Vision to Achieve a Population of 100,000

Establishing 3 Major Future Strategies, 7 Growth Engines, and Implementation Plans

Gong Young-min, the governor of Goheung County, Jeonnam, announced a newly established county vision of ‘Achieving a population of 100,000 in Goheung by 2030.’

This county vision further specifies the administrative goal of reaching a population of 100,000 by 2030 and signifies the intention to implement a sustainable population policy by attracting not only the baby boom generation but also the 20s and 30s age groups.

[Image provided by Goheung-gun]

Since the launch of the 8th local government administration, Goheung County has concentrated all its administrative capabilities on population issues.

In December last year, the Population Policy Division was upgraded to the Population Policy Office to oversee population policies comprehensively, and the general affairs teams in the towns and townships were renamed ‘Population Administration Teams’ to ensure thorough promotion of population policies from the local level, reorganizing the administrative system to accelerate the achievement of the Goheung vision.

Along with the new vision, the county also presented the implementation strategy of ‘3 Major Future Strategies and 7 Growth Engines.’

The 3 major future strategies focus on intensively fostering Goheung County’s core industries?‘space, drones & UAM, and smart farms’?as strategic industries and raising both domestic and international recognition through ▲establishing a space launch vehicle industry cluster ▲promoting drone & UAM tourism commercialization ▲expanding the Goheung-type smart farm innovation valley.

The 7 growth engines include ▲opening the era of 10 million Goheung tourists ▲increasing the added value of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock industries ▲creating jobs and revitalizing the local economy ▲building a meticulous welfare system that delivers emotional satisfaction ▲expanding local residential infrastructure and focusing on citizen safety ▲cultivating culture and arts enjoyed together ▲implementing citizen-centered communication and responsible administration.

The county plans to significantly improve living conditions by increasing quality jobs through the 3 major future strategic industries, constructing public rental housing by region, developing wide-area road and railway networks, and expanding large-scale tourism facilities.

Additionally, various youth employment and start-up support projects are being expanded, and step-by-step programs providing one-stop support from preparation to settlement are operated for returnees to farming, fishing, and rural areas.

Furthermore, resident-led population increase policies are being promoted, such as creating model villages for attracting returnees to farming, fishing, and rural areas, and providing incentives to residents (including those living away) who contribute to attracting new residents.

Governor Gong Young-min stated, “Population is a critical issue directly linked to the existence of the region. Over the past 1 year and 6 months of the 8th local government administration, we have solidly laid the foundation for a population of 100,000, and from this year, only realization remains.” He added, “The newly designed county vision is a fully achievable goal, and we will definitely achieve a population of 100,000 in Goheung by 2030.”

Meanwhile, Governor Gong Young-min personally oversaw major project sites from the first day of the new year and visited Jeonnam Province to strengthen a close cooperative system with the Jeonnam governor for regional development.

He also toured 16 towns and townships holding ‘Regional Development Forums with Citizens’ to achieve the goal of 100,000 population in Goheung, and on the 23rd, visited central government ministries including the Ministry of Economy and Finance to propose key pending projects and intensify efforts to secure national budget allocations.

Governor Gong Young-min’s all-out, wide-ranging efforts to ‘Achieve a population of 100,000 in Goheung by 2030’ are drawing the attention of local residents who hope for regional development.

Goheung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr