Cheongsong County Allocates 78.6 Billion Won to Improve Rural Living Spaces

Selected Projects by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the Past 5 Years

Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province is responding to concerns about local extinction caused by the continuous decline and aging of the rural population by using funds secured through public contest projects to restore the unique qualities of rural areas and enhance their value through spatial improvement projects.

Cheongsong County selected for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs public contest project.

Since 2019, the county has participated in public contest projects to secure national funding for rural spatial improvement initiatives, including the Cheongsong-eup Rural Center Revitalization Project (18 billion KRW), the Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project in Geodae-ri of Cheongsong-eup, Sinjeom 1-ri of Juwangsan-myeon, and Hasok 1-ri of Bunam-myeon (totaling 6 billion KRW), village development projects in Gaksan-ri of Jinbo-myeon and three other locations, and the Deokri District Rural Space Maintenance Project (18 billion KRW), all aimed at creating living spaces harmonized with the surrounding landscape.

Additionally, from a broader perspective, the county has been preparing to sign a Rural Agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to restructure rural spaces. The Rural Agreement is a program that transforms rural areas into pleasant spaces where anyone would want to live. When a local government establishes a plan for rural regeneration and revitalization of living zones, the Ministry provides the necessary project funds for five years to implement the plan.

As a result of efforts since 2022, including resident field forums and the convening of the Rural Agreement Committee to reflect local residents' opinions in the "Rural Living Zone Revitalization Plan," the county was selected for the 2024 Rural Agreement Public Contest hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, securing project funds of 34.6 billion KRW.

With this, Cheongsong County has secured a total of 78.6 billion KRW in project funds for rural spatial improvement projects aimed at increasing the residential population and revitalizing rural areas, including the funds previously secured for the Cheongsong-eup Rural Center Revitalization Project and others.

Cheongsong County is already promoting the Jinbo-myeon Rural Center Revitalization Project along with the ongoing Cheongsong-eup project, aiming to expand and enhance living service functions such as transportation, culture, welfare, and rest, as well as improve the residential environment.

In Juwangsan-myeon, Bunam-myeon, Hyeondong-myeon, Hyeonseomyeon, Andeok-myeon, and Pacheon-myeon, where the Basic Living Base Creation Project is underway, projects to expand basic living service functions and improve the residential environment are being promoted.

Cheongsong County plans to establish a seamless living service supply system by linking rural centers with basic living bases within the living zone.

Yoon Kyunghee, the county governor who has actively prepared for the Rural Agreement public contest by enacting related ordinances and establishing a dedicated organization since 2022, stated, "Interest in quality of life is increasing, and awareness of the value of rural spaces is changing. We will strive to create pleasant living spaces for local residents using the project funds secured through public contests, invigorate rural areas, and increase the residential population."