Selected for Local Branding Support Project at Living Area Unit... Secured 300 Million KRW in National Funding
Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 24th that it has been finally selected for the ‘2024 Local Branding Activation Support Project by Living Area Unit’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The local branding activation project is designed to enhance the uniqueness and self-sustainability of a region by utilizing the area's unique resources (culture, environment, people, etc.) within living areas?units within about a 15-minute walk?that serve as everyday life spaces for residents and visitors. Selected local governments receive a special grant of 300 million KRW out of the total project cost of 600 million KRW.
In its application plan, Gangjin-gun themed it as ‘New Byeongyeong Merchants who Create Culture and Revitalize Villages.’ While merchants in the past were simply ‘individuals’ supplying goods needed by the village and its people, the current Byeongyeong merchants are reinterpreted as a ‘resident community’ that energizes the village. This reflects the meaning that residents and youth who revitalize Byeongyeong, an area in need of regional activation, are the ‘New Byeongyeong Merchants.’
On the 19th of last month, tourists enjoyed their evening while eating bulgogi at the Bulgum Bulpa event in Byeongyeong-myeon, Gangjin-gun. [Photo by Gangjin-gun]
The county plans to use the 300 million KRW in national funds secured through the local branding contest to create the Bulgeumbulpa event venue and strengthen its programs.
Specifically, they will carry out environmental improvement projects around the event venue and the Byeongyeong Market arcade, and enhance new programs by adding a story tour of the open garden in one alley of Byeongyeong and a story tour with resident guides.
The Bulgeumbulpa event, first held last year, attracted over 13,000 tourists?more than ten times the population of Byeongyeong-myeon. Residents, including the Saemaeul Women's Association, Youth Association, and Development Council of Byeongyeong-myeon, actively participated, connecting the region’s unique cultural resources to a regular festival. This earned the event high marks for both popularity and significance.
Gang Jin-won, the county governor, said, “The selection for the local branding contest has laid the foundation for regional economic vitality by utilizing Byeongyeong’s unique resources.” He added, “The ‘Gangjin Bulgeumbulpa’ project, which started last year with county funds, is an event organically linking Byeongyeong’s tourism resources such as Jeolla Byeongyeongseong Fortress and the Hamel Memorial Hall with human resources like the Women’s Association, Youth Association, and Development Council. Through this new challenge, we have pioneered Gangjin’s cultural tourism resources.”
He continued, “With this national funding, we will not only improve the quantity and quality of event programs but also enhance the environment around the event venue, including the Byeongyeong Market arcade, to create a Byeongyeong where residents want to live and tourists want to visit. Furthermore, together with the Puso and vacant house improvement projects, we will develop this into another successful case of local extinction solutions led by Gangjin-gun.”
In this local branding contest, 10 local governments nationwide, including Gangjin-gun, were selected.
Meanwhile, to meet the needs of tourists visiting Byeongyeong-myeon, Gangjin-gun will newly operate the ‘One Alley Natural Walk to Taste and Feel Byeongyeong’ program, which strengthens the existing One Alley program.
The One Alley Walk is held every Saturday from 10:20 AM for 1 hour and 30 minutes, limited to the first 10 participants. It involves an ecological tour around one alley area of Byeongyeong, followed by a gourmet experience (lunch or brunch) at a local Byeongyeong restaurant. The participation fee is 10,000 KRW.
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