Since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang Province (Governor Lee Namcheol) has set "Young Goryeong, Strong Goryeong" as its administrative goal. Over the past three years, the county has dynamically promoted key projects in various sectors, steadily laying the foundation for future development.
The most notable achievements include the inscription of the Jisan-dong Tumuli as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the designation of Daegaya as a historic city.
These accomplishments have become the driving force that positions Goryeong County as a leading historical tourism city in South Korea. Building on this momentum, the county has been hosting events such as the World Heritage Festival, Cultural Heritage Night Tour, and media art projects. In addition, it is accelerating the expansion of cultural and tourism infrastructure, including the construction of the National Daegaya Museum, the World Heritage Exploration Center, and the creation of a historical and cultural cluster.
The Daegaya Festival was recognized as the best cultural tourism festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2024 due to its robust management and the introduction of nighttime programs. It has also been evaluated as the top festival in North Gyeongsang Province for three consecutive years.
Goryeong County is holding a ceremony to commemorate its designation as a historic city. Photo by Goryeong County
Clear achievements have also been made in youth policies. Goryeong County has established residential infrastructure through youth happiness rental housing, community-based rental housing, and youth rural housing projects. It has also created cultural hubs for young people, such as Goryeong Youth Drurwak, Muse House, and the Culture and Arts Creative Center. Furthermore, by operating youth entrepreneurship spaces and a youth startup support center, the county has actively promoted job creation and linkage, resulting in winning the Grand Prize in the Job Creation category at the Local Government Management Awards.
To overcome low birth rates and support future generations, the county has implemented childbirth incentives, postpartum care subsidies, and scholarships and childcare incentives for families with multiple children. It has also introduced pediatric care services, the Aijoa Dream Playground, the Children's Science Experience Center, an immersive library, and the "three major free education programs" (free uniforms, meals, and tuition).
The establishment of a smart agriculture foundation is also noteworthy. Goryeong County has built a scientific farming system, including rental smart farms, strawberry seedling farms, and demonstration test plots. By creating facilities for the industrialization of green bio-materials, the county is securing competitiveness in future agriculture. Additionally, it is working to secure rural manpower and attract new residents by introducing seasonal foreign workers, expanding agricultural machinery rental centers, building a youth complex return-to-farming town, and constructing dormitories for agricultural workers.
Industrial, logistics, and transportation infrastructure have also been strengthened. The county has enhanced its competitiveness as a hinterland city for the Daegu metropolitan area through urban development in the Gwakhon District, the construction of public rental housing, the creation of the Millennium Architecture Pilot Village, the implementation of the Dalbit Railway Special Act, the establishment of the Daegaya Hi-Pass, and the introduction of a metropolitan transfer system. By attracting advanced industries such as the Wolseong and Yeolmoi industrial complexes, the Donggoryeong IC logistics complex, and the Industrial Safety Experience Center, the county achieved investment attraction totaling 1 trillion won. As a result, it received the Excellence Award in Investment Attraction from North Gyeongsang Province in 2023 and the Grand Prize at the Korea Regional Economy Awards in 2024.
The county has also actively promoted administration in partnership with residents. Efforts have included the completion of the Ssangnim Win-Win Exchange Center, the construction of new government buildings in Daegaya-eup and Seongsan-myeon, and the establishment of a regional care and education center in the Daegaya district, all aimed at expanding resident-centered living SOC. The county has also focused on improving living conditions through the maintenance of the Daegaya History Park, enhancement of nighttime landscapes, the establishment of a comprehensive welfare center for people with disabilities, a county gymnasium, a lifestyle forest, and a barefoot walking trail.
Additionally, as Goryeong County has been designated a new lifelong learning city, it is enhancing creative convergence programs and digital-based learning systems, and strengthening the city's overall competitiveness through lifelong education in cooperation with local universities.
Governor Lee Namcheol stated, "Over the past three years of the 8th popularly elected administration, we have unwaveringly pursued core projects to create a small but strong city, a 'young and strong Goryeong,' such as World Heritage inscription, youth policies, smart agriculture, and the expansion of transportation infrastructure." He emphasized, "Going forward, we will continue to build a greater future for Goryeong through bold execution and communication with our residents."
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