Selected for the Largest Provincial Funding,
Laying the Foundation for a Vibrant Youth Town
Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province announced on June 18 that it has been finally selected for the "2025 Youth Job-Linked Housing Support Project" hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do Province, securing a total project budget of 14 billion KRW, including 4.2 billion KRW from the Regional Extinction Response Metropolitan Fund.
The Youth Job-Linked Housing Support Project aims to curb the outflow of young people from the region and contribute to a tangible increase in population by attracting young people from other areas through the provision of rental housing for young workers in the region. Hapcheon County achieved the highest amount in the province, securing 4.2 billion KRW from the Regional Extinction Response Metropolitan Fund, after going through a rigorous process that included project plan reviews, on-site inspections, project presentations, and Q&A sessions.
During the evaluation process, Hapcheon County received positive assessments from the judges for the location and site conditions of the project area, the synergy with related projects, and the professionalism and feasibility of the project plan.
The project site is located in the center of Hapcheon-eup, where essential living infrastructure such as education, childcare, culture, and medical facilities are concentrated. The plan is to supply 30 units suitable for 2-3 person households in a 10-story building. Due to its excellent accessibility, a high level of resident satisfaction is expected.
Together with the Youth Newlywed Happy Housing and Youth Public Rental Housing projects currently underway right next to the site, a total residential complex of 90 units can be formed. This is expected to create not only a synergy effect as a vibrant youth town where young people can live together, but also cost savings in construction and greater efficiency in future management and operations.
In addition, the complex will include facilities such as a youth center, a startup support office, a shared kitchen, and a lounge cafe. Facilities favored by young people, such as a fitness center and a communal laundry room, will also be provided in conjunction with the adjacent Youth Newlywed Happy Housing and Youth Public Rental Housing projects.
In particular, the youth center will serve as a hub for supporting local youth startups, exchanging job information, promoting youth projects, and facilitating networking through active interactions. Through these initiatives, the project aims to go beyond simply providing housing, to prevent the outflow of young people and serve as a base for local youth, forming a "youth cluster" that is expected to become a focal point in responding to the crisis of regional extinction.
Hapcheon County expects that, if this youth job-linked housing support project is combined with existing rental housing projects to form a single residential town, it will attract newlywed couples who are considering moving to nearby cities such as Daegu or Jinju due to difficulties finding housing, as well as workers commuting from outside the county.
Kim Yuncheol, the county governor, stated, "With our selection for this project, we can now address much of the long-standing shortage of youth housing facilities. By collecting opinions from all sectors and reflecting the housing elements desired by young people, we will complete a vibrant youth town and make it a new landmark for Hapcheon, injecting new vitality into the region."
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