From the 18th to the 20th, Podu-myeon Chwido-seo Fishing Village Camp
Production of village promotional content utilizing village fishery resources and scenic resources
Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that a large-scale camp where young people enter an ultra-aged fishing village to inject new vitality will be held.
As a community problem participation-type project, this event will be filled with practical activities that breathe 'young energy' into the village, such as transforming vacant houses that have been abandoned for decades into new fishery stay spaces in collaboration with residents, and producing village promotional content utilizing the village's marine and scenic resources.
Goheung-gun (Governor Gong Young-min) and the Chwido-Geumsahang Fishing Village Anchor Organization (representative: Regional Asset Cooperative) will hold a fishing village camp from July 18 to 20 for 2 nights and 3 days at Chwido (Ochwi Village), Podu-myeon, together with the Korea Habitat University Student Club Federation (CCYP; Campus Chapters & Youth Program).
A total of 36 university students from 11 universities including Gachon University, Kangnam University, Gyeongsang National University, Korea University, Duksung Women's University, Seoul National University, Seoul Women's University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Hanyang University, and Hyupsung University will stay in the fishing village mainly inhabited by elderly residents, carrying out activities such as improving residential living environments, producing local content, and fostering regional and generational solidarity.
As the third camp continuing since last summer, this time it will be filled with evolved continuous activities such as utilizing vacant houses in areas at risk of disappearance to create and use 'sea view, fishing village sentiment' fishery stays together.
Chwido, located in Podu-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, was designated as a target area for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project (Chwido-Geumsahang area) from 2023 to address population decline and regional deterioration issues, and is currently promoting regional revitalization projects encompassing both hardware development and software programs.
This is an unprecedented event where a large number of young people participate in an ultra-aged fishing village to provide practical help and connections to the region, such as renovating vacant houses, embodying the meaning of changing the region through the currently spotlighted DIT (Do It, Together) method (going beyond DIY (Do It Yourself) to working 'together').
Beyond one-time volunteer activities, the fishing village camp, now in its third year, aims to become a cornerstone for attracting young people and those interested in regional living back to fishing villages that are disappearing due to aging.
By working up a sweat together and producing tangible results, it also adds the meaning of fostering local attachment, bonding with residents, and restoring disappearing regional and generational solidarity activities to build relationships.
Specifically, through prior resident consultations, long-term abandoned vacant houses leased free of charge will be planned and created as fishery stays based on a 'young sensibility' in collaboration with young people, residents, and related organizations (such as the county).
Based on the concept of the jointly created space, it will be used as accommodation and stay spaces for various fishing village visitors including youth, those interested in regional living, experience participants, and tourists.
Additionally, various local contents utilizing the village's main marine resources such as Goheung oysters and clams will be produced together to give the village its own character.
Shin Young-won and Choi Yeon-kyung, the general executives of the Korea Habitat University Student Club Federation participating in the camp, said, "It seems like a really good opportunity to cultivate a space in a beautiful village," and expressed their aspiration, "We want to capture the peaceful and warm atmosphere unique to Ochwi Village well and introduce the village's charm to more people."
Song Joo-min, director of the Goheung-gun Chwido-Geumsahang Fishing Village Anchor Organization (Regional Asset Cooperative), emphasized, "The Chwido-Geumsahang area is a fishing village with beautiful resources, a pristine environment, and residents' lives harmoniously blended. If we work together to maintain and develop it, it has sufficient potential," and added, "We have high expectations as we join forces with young people to create future alternatives beyond disappearance and disconnection."
Through this camp as a medium, the Chwido-Geumsahang area of Goheung-gun plans to actively continue the Fishing Village New Vitality Promotion Project, which revitalizes fishing villages without decline through creative solutions such as upgrading the use of marine and scenic resources, attracting youth and related populations, and expanding living services.
Goheung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr
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