Surpassing 2 Billion KRW for Two Consecutive Years: Ranked No. 1 Among Counties
Over 30% of Last Year’s Donors Made Repeat Donations
Fund Projects Launched, Including Hospital Accompaniment Service
Transparent and Effective Fund Management in the Spotlight
Byungno Lee, County Governor of Damyang, is presenting a successful case at a policy forum for the activation of the Hometown Love Donation System held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on November 25 last year. Provided by Damyang County
Damyang County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Byungno) was recognized as the “top county in the nation” for the second consecutive year, ranking first among counties nationwide and first in Jeollanam-do, by raising 16,832 donations totaling 2.302 billion KRW through the Hometown Love Donation program last year.
According to the county on the 14th, in 2024, the Hometown Love Donation program saw a 38.6% increase in the number of donations (4,690 more cases) and a 2.7% increase in total amount (60.77 million KRW) compared to the first year of implementation in 2023, which had 12,142 donations totaling 2.241 billion KRW. Over the two years since its launch, the cumulative amount has reached an impressive 4.54 billion KRW.
By donation amount, donations of 100,000 KRW or less, which are fully eligible for tax deductions, accounted for 94.7% of the total, while donations from people with ties to the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions made up 58.3%. The significant increase in small donations is seen as establishing a solid foundation for the Hometown Love Donation program.
Notably, 31% of donors from the first year made repeat donations to Damyang County for two consecutive years, a meaningful result that indicates the successful establishment of the program.
In 2023, the county focused on laying the groundwork for the program by promoting the system and selecting a variety of return gifts. In the second year of implementation, the county concentrated on projects reflecting local issues, quality control of return gifts, and ways to honor donors.
Damyang County is conducting the "Senior Hospital Escort Service" as part of the Hometown Love Donation Fund project. Photo by Damyang County
Of the 2.24 billion KRW in donations received in 2023, the county allocated 260 million KRW to launch three major fund projects last year. These included: “Accompaniment to Hospital and Integrated Care for Discharged Patients” for seniors with mobility difficulties and limited access to public transportation; “Support Project for Local Children's Centers to Make Damyang a Better Place for Children,” which provides musical instrument education opportunities to enhance cultural and artistic experiences for children at local centers; and “Support Project for Revitalizing the Damyang-eup Merchants’ Community,” which covers nighttime lighting electricity costs and supports merchant-led street events for small business owners.
These fund projects received high satisfaction ratings. Among county residents who used the hospital accompaniment service for seniors, 87% responded that they were “satisfied,” and the projects were evaluated as making a significant contribution to realizing “Damyang-style rural welfare.”
This year, the county plans to expand the budget for existing projects. The hospital accompaniment project will broaden its scope from only within the county to include the Gwangju area, and new projects such as the “Youth Reading Club Support Project” and “Rural Community Meal Center Operation” will also be launched.
Some have questioned whether the project budget is too small compared to the amount raised, but the county intends to manage the funds with greater prudence. They believe that the current amount is insufficient for large-scale projects and caution against wasting funds on simple building construction or one-off events. As the program is still in its early stages, the county will operate fund projects on a small scale, then gradually expand the budget and target beneficiaries, and in the medium to long term, discover and implement larger projects step by step.
Damyang County is promoting the "Local Children's Center Support Project," which provides children with opportunities for musical instrument education as part of the Hometown Love Donation Fund project. Photo by Damyang County
Last year, the county established differentiated policies to honor donors and secure long-term relationships. In February, the ordinance was amended to provide a legal basis for honoring donors, and entrance fee discounts were offered at six major local tourist attractions, including Juknokwon and Metasequoia Road.
In November, the county also began designated donations following the launch of fund projects. The four designated donation projects include: ▲Support for the Damyang Hometown Association Hall construction ▲Cultural welfare programs for seniors ▲Rehabilitation care at the Rural Senior Welfare Center ▲Stray Animal Adoption Project. As of the end of last year, the “Stray Animal Adoption Project” received the most enthusiastic response, with 589 donations totaling approximately 56 million KRW in just two months.
The county has also established various communication channels, such as a donor feedback portal on its website, to promote the program more actively and continuously discover effective projects that reflect local issues, allowing donors to participate with pride.
Last year, other local governments visited Damyang to learn the secrets of the Hometown Love Donation program's success. Officials from Gwangju and Jeonnam, as well as Sejong City, Okcheon County in North Chungcheong, Taebaek City and Pyeongchang County in Gangwon-do, and many others visited Damyang. In November, Governor Lee Byungno personally presented the success story of the Hometown Love Donation program at a policy research meeting held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
Damyang County held a "Return Gift Supplier Meeting" for the Hometown Love Donation Program on June 5th last year at the Myeonangjeong Room in the county office. Provided by Damyang County
It is analyzed that the “goodwill” of donors who sympathized with the purpose of the Hometown Love Donation program?to revive the poor local finances facing extinction?played a major role in Damyang County, with a population of around 40,000, achieving over 2 billion KRW in donations for two consecutive years. The county’s active efforts and promotion, such as offering a variety of high-quality local agricultural and specialty products as return gifts, also contributed significantly.
The county is promoting high-quality local agricultural and specialty products through return gifts and implementing fund projects that reflect local issues, thereby motivating potential donors nationwide and encouraging them to visit and stay in Damyang.
A county official advised, “Since the program is called ‘Hometown Love,’ its essence lies in the story of Damyang. Rather than focusing solely on the act of raising donations, we should operate the program with an emphasis on the quality and sustainability of donations.”
Governor Lee Byungno expressed his gratitude, saying, “The number of donations increased by about 38% compared to the previous year, and the Hometown Love Donation program in Damyang is becoming firmly established. This achievement was possible thanks to donors from all over the country who supported Damyang.”
He added, “Among the more than 240 local governments nationwide, we will continue to strengthen donor honor policies so that those who choose Damyang and donate every year can become part of our community.”
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