Two Villages Selected as Final Recipients in Local Era Committee Competition
Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do announced on July 8 that two villages?Daejeon Village in Gayamyeon and Gahyeon Village in Cheongdeok-myeon?have been selected as final recipients in the "2026 Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project" competition organized by the Local Era Committee.
The Vulnerable Area Living Conditions Improvement Project aims to guarantee a basic standard of living for residents in rural areas whose living conditions have deteriorated due to a lack of social and economic support during the process of economic growth. The project seeks to promote balanced regional development and improve quality of life by expanding living infrastructure such as safety and sanitation, improving residential environments, and strengthening residents' capabilities. The Local Era Committee serves as the control tower for this project, providing support through coordination between central and local governments.
Daejeon Village in Gayamyeon, which reapplied this year after last year's attempt, is an area urgently in need of improvement. The village has been continuously exposed to natural disasters and safety accidents, including fatalities from bamboo forest fires, accidents involving agricultural machinery on slopes, narrow alleyways, and collapsed walls.
Gahyeon Village in Cheongdeok-myeon was selected for the project as it was deemed suitable due to repeated flooding caused by typhoons and heavy rainfall during the summer.
To prepare for this competition, Hapcheon-gun held resident briefings starting in January, conducted on-site investigations and forums, and, with consulting from Gyeongsangnam-do and an in-person evaluation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, finalized the two villages as the project sites.
From 2026, over a four-year period, Hapcheon-gun plans to invest 2.4 billion KRW in Daejeon Village in Gayamyeon to install a retaining wall for the bamboo forest, apply anti-slip pavement, and refurbish village alleyways and houses. The goal is to create a "Daejeon Village Community of One Roof and One Heart Under Mt. Bige" where residents care for one another.
For Gahyeon Village in Cheongdeok-myeon, approximately 2.5 billion KRW will be invested to improve drainage in areas prone to flooding, reinforce retaining walls and slopes at risk of collapse, remodel the village hall, repair dangerous walls and alleyways, and renovate houses. The project aims to create "Gahyeon Village: A Happy Rural Community with Safe Spaces, Pleasant Living Environments, and a Spirit of Sharing."
Meanwhile, the Future Growth Vitality Division of Hapcheon-gun began the Myeonsan-myeon Ungi District Rural Space Improvement Project (12.6 billion KRW) in February. In March, the county was selected for the Land Reserve Project (23.2 billion KRW) for the development of the Hapcheon Station area.
On May 7, Hapcheon-gun was also selected for the Rural Agreement (Southern Region Revitalization Area) announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, securing 42 billion KRW in national and provincial funding. This is expected to inject vitality into the stagnant southern areas, including Ssangbaek, Samga, and Gahoemyeon, over the next five years.
In June, following the selection of the Cheongdeok-myeon Gahyeon District Rural Space Improvement Project (3.4 billion KRW), Hapcheon-gun was also chosen for a youth job-linked housing support project worth 12 billion KRW, achieving a total project budget of approximately 100 billion KRW.
County Governor Kim Yooncheol stated, "In the first half of this year, the Future Growth Vitality Division has achieved more results in various public competitions aimed at improving residents' quality of life than in any previous year," adding, "We will continue to actively participate in national subsidy projects to improve living conditions in our county."
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