Securing 2 Billion KRW
Expectations for Regional Economic Revitalization
Muju County in North Jeolla Province has been selected for the "2025 Regional Stay-Based Hometown Olle-Learncation Project," securing a project budget of 2 billion KRW.
According to the county on May 22, the Hometown Olle (GO鄕ALL來) project is a regional economic revitalization policy promoted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. It aims to respond to the risk of local extinction and the increasing mobility of the population by boosting regional vitality through the increase of stay-type resident populations.
The project is being carried out in the fields of workcation, learncation, dual-region living, local study, and local venture. In 2025, the county took on the newly established "learncation" category and will create the "Muju Picture Book Play Creative Hub."
Learncation is a concept that combines learning and vacation, referring to experiential travel where visitors relax while learning about the local culture and history.
The county has set its vision as "Learning through picture books (go), enriching with culture (go), a healing journey full of charm together." Based on this project selection, the county plans to revitalize the stagnant Muju Traditional Craft Workshop.
One of the two buildings will be restructured into a cultural space that is always accessible to local residents. The county will establish four sensory schools (hand, movement, taste, picture book) utilizing local resources such as cultural tourism facilities, natural resources, and cultural and arts organizations, as well as spaces for experiencing regional culture and discovering and nurturing local artists.
Tailored creative programs for families with young children and elementary school students, as well as small groups, and educational programs for artists will also be offered. The county plans to attract not only local residents but also visitors seeking in-depth experiences of the region's culture.
Hwang Inhong, the county governor, stated, "We will accelerate the implementation of the Hometown Olle Learncation project to expand the living population of Muju County and achieve results in various areas, including education, tourism, and regional economic revitalization." He added, "By linking this with the Muju Bandi Cultural Creation Center project, which aims to activate the area around the traditional craft workshop, art museum, literature museum, and library as a cultural and artistic regeneration space, we will create an innovative stay-type tourism and education model."
Meanwhile, the Muju Bandi Cultural Creation Center is currently being established at the Choi Buk Art Museum to strengthen the region's cultural tourism infrastructure and revitalize the local economy, following its selection for the 2024 Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Regional Character Enhancement Project. Major facilities will include the Bandi Community Center, exhibition halls, and pop-up stores.
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