Progressive Leadership Secures Trust in a Traditionally Conservative Stronghold
Overcoming Local Extinction Crisis by Becoming the "Mecca of Smart Agriculture"
Top Integrity Rating for Three Consecutive Years... Highest Pledge Fulfillment Grade for Two Years Running
Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province is traditionally known as a conservative region, being the hometown of the late former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil. However, even within this regional sentiment, Buyeo County Governor Park Jung-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party, succeeded in being re-elected from the 7th to the 8th popularly elected term, garnering broad support from residents through "tangible achievements and practical, everyday changes."
In particular, her approval rating of 62% and the high level of trust she enjoys among the elderly population in this super-aged region are considered rare examples nationwide.
During her 7th and 8th terms, Governor Park has pursued major policies for Buyeo's future, laying the foundation for regional development.
She has produced notable results in various areas, including directly addressing the crisis of local extinction through smart agriculture innovation, restructuring for sustainable industry, improving living conditions for youth and workers, and transforming the area from a tourism city into a garden city.
◆ Smart Agriculture Innovation Shining Amid Crisis
Buyeo County is facing a rural crisis, with its population falling below 60,000 and its aging rate surpassing 40%. In response, Governor Park has focused on transforming the agricultural structure, centering on the creation of a smart agriculture innovation city.
By introducing youth-oriented rental smart farms, an integrated support center, and distributing family smart farms, Buyeo is building advanced agricultural infrastructure. The county is also establishing a one-stop support system covering everything from education to farm start-up, making every effort to attract young farmers.
As a result, the area of smart farm greenhouse cultivation in Buyeo now accounts for 45% of the total in South Chungcheong Province, establishing Buyeo as the "Mecca of Smart Agriculture."
◆ Industrial Structure Reform and Opportunity Development Zone Designation
Since the start of her 8th term, Governor Park has focused on adding an industrial economic axis to the region's agriculture and cultural tourism-centered economy. Achievements include establishing a dedicated investment attraction team, attracting Buyeo's first global company (worth 50 billion won), starting construction on Buyeo General Industrial Complex, designating the Eunsan 2 Industrial Complex as an Opportunity Development Zone, and attracting a biomass wood pellet company.
According to analysis by the Chungnam Institute, the designation as an Opportunity Development Zone is expected to generate about 234.6 billion won in production inducement effects and create 954 jobs. In addition, projects to improve living conditions, such as the Worker Happiness Town, youth rental housing, and a shared dormitory for workers at the Eunsan Industrial Complex, are being actively pursued.
◆ Field-Oriented Administration Revitalizing the Local Economy and Employment
Buyeo County received the top prize in the "2023 National Local Government Job Awards" hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor for initiatives such as job consulting tailored to local conditions and building a social economy cooperation system. The local currency "Goodtrae Pay," which boosted neighborhood business sales by over 25% last year, won the Presidential Award and is being recognized as a model for the virtuous cycle of local funds.
The county is also leading the province and ranking among the top nationwide in senior job creation projects, which support social participation among the elderly and create public jobs. In 2024, Buyeo was the only local government in South Chungcheong Province to be selected as an excellent local government in the "Senior Job Creation Project Evaluation" conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged.
◆ Expanding Welfare and Living Infrastructure to Improve Quality of Life
Expansion of welfare services and living infrastructure that residents can truly feel is also noteworthy.
For families with newborns and young children, the county supports postpartum care center fees and covers 50% of the out-of-pocket costs for child care services. For youth, Buyeo was the first in South Chungcheong Province to provide free HPV vaccinations for 12-year-old boys and free flu shots. For middle-aged and older adults, support includes health check-up fees for female farmers, additional dental implant subsidies for seniors, and a hospital companion service for elderly living alone, strengthening practical support tailored to each stage of life and reducing caregiving burdens.
Buyeo is also actively developing infrastructure such as the Buyeo Culture and Arts Education Complex Town, a public dementia care nursing facility, a combined day and short-term care facility for people with disabilities, and the Bandabi Sports Center, creating a foundation for diverse residents to live safely and healthily.
◆ Establishing a Sustainable Growth Foundation for Future Generations
Governor Park is also dedicating significant effort to establishing environmental and industrial foundations for future generations.
The organic waste integrated treatment facility, which converts livestock manure, food waste, and sewage sludge into biogas, overcame NIMBY issues through a resident-participation site selection process and is being recognized as a national model case.
Buyeo was also selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 13 billion won project to create a biomass-based vegan leather demonstration cluster, leading to the full-scale establishment of the Korea Textile Development Institute Chungnam Branch. This facility is expected to serve as an outpost for the future materials industry through the construction of a test bed and prototype production.
◆ Leap Toward "Garden City Buyeo" ... Diversifying Tourism Resources
Buyeo County is creating a new turning point for the tourism industry, centering on the Baekmagang National Garden. With an investment of 65 billion won, the national garden is being developed over 1.32 million square meters in the Gunsuri Baekmagang area. The project aims to transform the entire county into a garden through a network linking Gungnamji, Jeongnimsaji, and Busosan, drawing significant attention.
The 123 Sabi Craft Village, a cultural and creative cluster, is also showing visible results. Based on infrastructure including 12 studios, a creative center, and a residence, the village operates various programs and the Guyam Market monthly, involving young artisans and local residents. As a result, annual foot traffic increased by 24% compared to 2022, injecting new vitality into the region.
Through initiatives such as incubating young artisans, supporting creative and residential spaces, and providing capacity-building education, the village has produced holders of national intangible cultural heritage status. Both online and offline craft sales, start-ups, and crowdfunding are leading to real income generation and entrepreneurship. Resident satisfaction is high, contributing to improved living conditions and an increase in the resident population, and driving positive change in the local community.
◆ Exemplary Administration in Integrity and Innovation
Governor Park is also receiving high marks for administrative trust and integrity. Buyeo County earned the top grade in the Comprehensive Integrity Evaluation for public institutions, conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, for three consecutive years. This is a rare achievement, with only Buyeo County, Boseong County, and Seoul Guro District receiving the highest grade for three consecutive years nationwide.
The county also achieved the highest grade in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's comprehensive civil service evaluation, was selected as an excellent institution in active administration and fiscal execution evaluations, received the highest grade for two consecutive years in the Manifesto Pledge Implementation Evaluation, and ranked second among counties in South Chungcheong Province, establishing itself as a model local government through outstanding performance in various assessments.
◆ Outstanding Fulfillment of Promises to Residents
Governor Park has also achieved remarkable results in fulfilling her promises to residents.
During the 7th term, as of the end of 2021, the pledge fulfillment rate was 95.65% and the financial securing rate was 90.54%, far exceeding the national average. In the 8th term, as of the end of 2024, the pledge fulfillment rate exceeded 80%. This is significantly higher than the national average of 53.05%, placing Buyeo among the 21 counties out of 226 basic local governments to receive the highest "SA" grade for pledge fulfillment.
In terms of financial securing, Buyeo also far surpassed the South Chungcheong Province average of 34.43%, demonstrating substantial momentum in implementation.
In addition to her pledges, Governor Park has addressed long-standing local issues, such as the construction of the New Geumgang Bridge and resolving the illegal waste landfill problem in Jangam-myeon, delivering changes that residents can truly feel.
Governor Park Jung-hyun stated, "While the 7th term focused on building trust, fairness, and laying the groundwork, the 8th term is concentrating on tangible policies to realize 'A Greater Buyeo Made Together' based on that foundation," adding, "I will do my utmost to fulfill my promises to the residents without complacency."
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