Full-scale Rural Development to Be Promoted by 2029
"Improvement of Residential Environment in Six Hub Districts"
Damyang County signed a "Rural Agreement" with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 15th at Amoris Yeoksam in Seoul, attended by Minister Song Miryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 21 local government heads nationwide, and over 200 officials. Provided by Damyang County
Damyang County in South Jeolla Province (Governor Jeong Cheolwon) has signed a "Rural Agreement" with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, officially launching a rural development project worth a total of 36.9 billion KRW over the next five years.
According to the county on May 16, the Rural Agreement was signed the previous day at Amoris Yeoksam in Seoul. The event was attended by Minister Song Miryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, heads of 21 local governments participating in the agreement nationwide, and over 200 officials.
Under the agreement, the county will go through expert consulting and plan refinement procedures with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and will invest a total project budget of 36.9 billion KRW, including 18.5 billion KRW in national funding, by 2029.
Based on this, the county plans to sequentially implement the first phase of the basic living hub creation project (Mujeong-myeon, Geumseong-myeon, Wolsan-myeon, Subuk-myeon), the second phase (Bongsan-myeon, Daejeon-myeon), and the vulnerable area living condition improvement project (Ballyong-ri), all according to a single living zone plan.
This rural development project is particularly expected to serve as an opportunity to substantially improve the quality of life for residents by enhancing customized infrastructure in each living zone, especially in the current situation where various basic services such as childcare, education, culture, sports, healthcare, and transportation are lacking in each area.
In the short term (2025-2029), the county aims to urgently increase the self-sufficiency rate of essential living services at each hub and to establish a connected structure among these services to improve residential conditions.
In the mid-term (2030-2034), the county plans to further advance the residential environment based on specialized strategies for each functional hub, and to lay the foundation for balanced development through revitalization of the local economy and restoration of rural identity.
In the long term (2035-2045), the county envisions establishing a large-scale, integrated hub system by differentiating and linking functions among four zones centered on Damyang-eup, thereby leading sustainable balanced development throughout Damyang.
The 36.9 billion KRW investment is expected to have a ripple effect that goes beyond individual township-level projects, organically connecting the entire residential infrastructure of Damyang County. In particular, hub-centered development linked to the metropolitan transportation network, living culture facilities, and education and welfare infrastructure is projected to become a representative model for future Damyang-style rural policies.
Governor Jeong Cheolwon stated, "This agreement is more than just basic infrastructure improvement; it marks an important beginning for enhancing the sustainability of Damyang's rural areas and establishing a resident-led residential environment. Through systematic development of hub areas and revitalization of communities, we will realize the happiness of 'Damrojangsaeng' enjoyed in Dambit."
Meanwhile, the "Rural Agreement" is a system introduced in 2020 in which the central government (the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) and local governments (basic local authorities) cooperate to create sustainable rural areas. Based on a rural spatial strategy plan jointly established by local governments and residents, a living zone activation plan is developed, and joint investment, including national funding, is carried out accordingly.
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