3 Years Since the Launch of the 8th Popularly Elected Administration
Hampyeong County Achieves Remarkable Results in Regional Development and Welfare
Unveiling "Vision Project 2.0" to Drive Sustainable Growth and Become the Central City of the Southwest
Sangik Lee, Former Mayor of Hampyeong County, Jeonnam.
On June 26, Hampyeong County, Jeonnam, announced that it had achieved significant results in a wide range of areas over the past three years since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration. The county cited achievements in attracting businesses and creating jobs, strengthening the competitiveness of the agriculture and livestock industries, expanding cultural and tourism infrastructure, establishing a Hampyeong-style welfare system, fostering education and talent, and improving social overhead capital (SOC) infrastructure.
The county has been actively implementing the "Hampyeong Future Regional Development Vision Project" since 2023 to realize its goal of becoming a central city in the southwestern region. In the second half of this year, it plans to announce "Vision Project 2.0," which will supplement the core initiatives.
The "Future Regional Development Vision Project," which Hampyeong County is jointly promoting with Jeonnam Province, is a mega-project with a total budget of 1.8409 trillion won, consisting of 17 detailed projects across six sectors. The core goal is to transform Hampyeong into a sustainable future city where agriculture, advanced manufacturing, tourism, and digital industries are integrated.
The Bitgreen National Industrial Complex, a key hub, is already home to automotive parts companies, including Gwangju Global Motors (GGM), and Kumho Tire has also signed a contract to move in, establishing an industrial ecosystem centered on future vehicles. The county is also developing an advanced city in the hinterland of the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex to simultaneously improve residential conditions and secure industrial manpower.
"Vision Project 2.0," scheduled for announcement in the second half of the year, will include core strategies to secure new growth engines, such as the creation of a 3.3 million square meter (1 million pyeong) RE100-based national industrial complex, the development of a 2.25 million square meter (680,000 pyeong) future convergence advanced new city, and the establishment of a data center cluster.
The county plans to continue expanding the vision project to drive industrial transformation, population inflow, and balanced regional development simultaneously. In the tourism sector, Hampyeong has established a year-round tourism foundation, with 80,000 visitors attending last year's "Winter Night Light Festival" in addition to the spring and autumn "Butterfly Festival" and "Chrysanthemum Festival." This summer, the county will introduce the new "2025 Hampyeong Water Play Festa," completing its four-season tourism system.
Sports and leisure infrastructure is also being expanded. The long-awaited Hampyeong Indoor Swimming Pool began official operations earlier this year, and by 2028, the county plans to gradually develop a comprehensive sports town equipped with a gymnasium, soccer field, and tennis courts.
In the agricultural sector, Hampyeong established the nation's first "Low-Methane Roughage Distribution Center" and is accelerating the transition to AI and ICT-based agriculture by developing smart farm complexes. In particular, the county is ensuring both sustainability and economic feasibility through data-driven cultivation management and automated production.
The "Hampyeong Cheonji Distribution Cluster" has signed export agreements worth $3.2 million over the past two years since its launch last year and has achieved export results of 6.3 billion won across three product categories, laying the foundation for entry into the global market.
The livestock industry is also being transformed into a sustainable agricultural model by gradually promoting a sixth industry model that combines a smart livestock complex, healing park, and equipment cluster through the creation of the "AI Advanced Livestock Industry Convergence Valley," which improves productivity and reduces labor requirements.
In the welfare sector, the county achieved a total fertility rate of 1.3 in 2024, ranking seventh nationwide, thanks to policies tailored to each stage of life. This is attributed to support for mothers, improvements in child health management, and the reorganization of the care system.
Designated as an educational development special zone this year, Hampyeong is expected to gain further momentum in establishing a "Hampyeong-style Care and Extended Care Education System." In addition, the county is laying the foundation for fostering creative and convergent talent by developing regionally specialized professionals, such as those at the golf high school, and building an integrated and linked school education system. The county's talent development fund, the first in Jeonnam to fully cover university tuition and living expenses, is also attracting nationwide attention.
Youth policies are also being systematically expanded. The county has established a basic plan for youth policy and has been collecting opinions through the operation of a youth center and youth council. Hampyeong is building a comprehensive youth support system that encompasses youth job creation, startup support, and residential support.
In addition, the attraction of public institutions such as the Road Traffic Authority's Traffic Safety Education Center and the Livestock Resources Development Division is expected to have a positive effect on job creation, population inflow, and economic revitalization in the region.
For the middle-aged and elderly, the county is realizing Hampyeong-style welfare by supporting artificial joint and eye disease surgeries and has established a robust welfare safety net through dementia support, mental health care, and visiting health services.
County Mayor Sangik Lee stated, "Based on the achievements of the past three years of the 8th popularly elected administration, we will focus on realizing a sustainable future city that takes into account the economy, welfare, and living conditions."He emphasized, "We will fulfill our promise of a new leap forward and a hopeful Hampyeong together with our residents, and rise as the central city of the southwestern region that will lead the next 100 years."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
