Geochang Governor Gu Inmo Holds Press Conference: "At the Center of Western Gyeongnam"

Gu Inmo, the governor of Geochang County in Gyeongsangnam-do, held a press conference in the county office situation room to mark the third anniversary of the 8th elected administration.

The press conference, held on July 2, presented the major achievements and the progress of key pledges over the past three years of the 8th administration, outlined the direction for the latter half of the term, and shared a vision for major upcoming projects. The 8th administration has been advancing improved governance based on the achievements of the past three years.

Last year, Geochang County ranked first in population among county-level local governments in Gyeongsangnam-do, confirming the effectiveness of its population policies. The county also demonstrated its ability to solve practical issues by successfully selecting a site for a crematorium, a long-standing wish of residents. By strategically focusing on population, education, and youth sectors, Geochang is now actively pursuing balanced regional growth.

Since the 7th administration, the county established a Population and Education Division through organizational restructuring, and immediately after the launch of the 8th administration, signed a joint public-private agreement to address population growth. These efforts represent proactive and aggressive responses to population challenges.

Geochang County 3rd Anniversary Press Conference of the 8th Elected Administration.

In particular, in 2024, as the population of 60,000?maintained for 20 years?fell below that threshold, the county recognized this as an inevitable trend of the times and announced the "New Population Policy of Geochang County" to turn the crisis into an opportunity, setting forth new visions and goals.

As a result, since last year, the county has achieved top results in major population indicators, including: No. 1 in population among counties in the province, No. 1 in total fertility rate (1.02 children), No. 1 in number of births among counties (249 births), No. 1 in marriage registrations among counties (184), and the lowest population decline rate among counties (4.6%). Marking the third anniversary of the 8th administration, the county is accelerating the establishment of medical, funeral, elderly care, and welfare infrastructure, transforming itself into a "people-centered welfare city."

Geochang's flagship project, the Geochang-style Medical Welfare Town, has entered full-scale development. The core project, the relocation and new construction of Geochang Red Cross Hospital, was selected in August last year as a candidate for a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and is currently underway. About 82% of the site has already been acquired, and the county plans to begin site development in the second half of the year, aiming to open the new hospital by 2030.

In addition, the county plans to build a public postpartum care center, a Happy Mom Community Center, and a comprehensive childcare support center on the same site, creating public childcare infrastructure from pregnancy to childbirth. Through the "Geochang 012 Care" system, which aims to eliminate childcare burdens for children from 0 to 12 years old, Geochang is striving to become a city where it is easy to raise children.

To address the structural challenges of rural areas and establish a smart and sustainable agricultural system, the 8th administration has been pursuing comprehensive agricultural strategies, including strengthening smart agriculture, attracting foreign seasonal workers, communicating directly with farmers, and improving the agricultural environment.

In 2025, the county will establish a "Future Agriculture Division" and is systematizing operations centered on smart agriculture. Since 2020, the Agricultural Technology Center's demonstration test fields have piloted smart farms for strawberries, subtropical fruits, open-field grapes, and vertical farming. In particular, last year's deregulation of farmland conversion has given momentum to the activation of vertical farms.

In February of this year, Geochang was selected for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 20 billion won "Smart Agriculture Promotion Zone" project. By 2027, the county plans to establish a 5-hectare smart farm complex in Daepyeong-ri, Geochang-eup, and introduce a 5+5 year long-term lease system for young farmers. In addition, by 2029, the county plans to invest 37.3 billion won to promote a multi-structure orchard establishment project.

Since 2008, Geochang County has designated the elevator industry as its core industry, laying the foundation as the only elevator industry city in Korea through the establishment of the Elevator Best Valley in 2017 and designation as an Elevator Valley Industrial Special Zone in 2019.

Alongside this, the county opened Korea Lift College and established a specialized elevator industrial complex, strengthening its elevator industry infrastructure. Last year, the county relocated the Elevator Talent Development Center and built the Elevator Industry Complex Hall, further enhancing its technological development capabilities.

Currently, 37 companies producing finished products, key materials, and components are located in the Elevator Best Valley, generating annual sales of 210 billion won and providing regular employment for 510 people, playing a crucial role in the local economy. To alleviate traffic congestion in Geochang-eup, where 60% of the population is concentrated, the county has installed roundabouts at 20 major intersections in the urban area since 2020.

In 2021, the opening of Geochang Anti-Aging Healing Land, Geochang Changpowon, and the Gamaksan Flower & Star Festival laid the foundation for tourism. Under the 8th administration, the opening of the Susungdae Suspension Bridge, the Gamaksan Barrier-Free Sharing Trail, and the completion of the Geochang Forest Leisure Sports Park have completed a north-south-east-west tourism belt.

Geochang Changpowon, which has become a representative tourist destination, attracted 610,000 visitors last year alone. This year, the county is implementing a nightscape improvement project to transform it into a destination enjoyable both day and night.

Meanwhile, starting in the latter half of 2025, Geochang County plans to accelerate the completion of key projects with the goal of a smooth transition to an era of one million daily-life population and a major transformation into a tourism industry city. The Geochang Art Gallery construction project will complete its detailed design this year, break ground early next year, and is scheduled for completion by 2027.