Yeongdeok and Cheongsong Designated as Special Regeneration Zones After Wildfire Damage

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 12th that, following a review by the Urban Regeneration Special Committee, Yeongdeok-gun and Cheongsong-gun in Gyeongbuk have been designated as special regeneration zones. These areas previously suffered disaster damage from wildfires in March.

The designated areas include Seok-ri and Nomulli in Yeongdeok-eup, Yeongdeok-gun, as well as Bugok-ri in Cheongsong-eup, Cheongsong-gun. Urban regeneration projects will be carried out on a village-by-village basis in these regions, where large-scale disaster damage occurred to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural and fishery facilities, with the goal of restoring local communities.

This is the second time a special regeneration zone has been designated, following Heunghaeeup in Pohang in 2018. In response to the earthquake damage in Pohang in 2017, the government amended the law to allow urban regeneration projects in areas affected by large-scale disasters. In Pohang, full-scale projects began the year after designation, including the construction of community facilities and a trauma center for residents.

A worker is clearing a house damaged by a wildfire with heavy machinery in Nomulli, Yeongdeok-eup, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

Until now, urban regeneration projects were carried out by local governments based on a ten-year master plan called the Urban Regeneration Strategy Plan for their respective jurisdictions. This process has been improved to provide a legal basis for rapid project implementation in disaster-affected areas. For these two regions, 8 billion won in first-year project funding, secured through this year's supplementary budget, will be provided.

Each local government will soon draw up a special regeneration plan. Even before the plan is established or approved, urgent restoration work will be carried out first. The focus will be on repairing housing and infrastructure and establishing disaster response infrastructure. In Yeongdeok, economic revitalization will also be pursued through the development of marine tourism facilities. In Cheongsong-gun, efforts will be made to boost tourism by developing commercial and accommodation facilities.

Lee Sangjoo, Director General for Land and Urban Affairs at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We plan to carry out emergency restoration work and other measures without delay to ensure the safety of local residents and prevent secondary damage in wildfire-affected areas during the upcoming summer rainy season."