Yeongju City Secures 4.5 Billion Won in National Funding as Two Sites Are Simultaneously Selected for Rural Saetteulmaeul Project

Yeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province has gained momentum in promoting balanced regional development and improving rural living conditions, as two locations?Nojwa 1-ri in Bonghyeon-myeon and Ugok-ri in Buseok-myeon?were simultaneously selected for the 2026 Rural Vulnerable Area Living Condition Improvement Project (Saetteulmaeul Project) competition.

On July 11, Yeongju City announced, "In this competition hosted by the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development, Nojwa 1-ri in Bonghyeon-myeon and Ugok-ri in Buseok-myeon have been selected as the final target areas." The city added, "A total project budget of 4.5 billion won, including 2.3 billion won for Nojwa 1-ri and 2.2 billion won for Ugok-ri, will be invested, with national funding included."

The project will be carried out over four years, from 2026 to 2029. In the two selected areas, tailored development projects aimed at comprehensively improving aging residential areas and living infrastructure will be actively promoted.

The main initiatives include: ▲ maintenance of village access roads, ▲ reinforcement of disaster-prone facilities, and ▲ installation of smart safety walking systems to strengthen safety infrastructure. In addition, ▲ care services for elderly people living alone and vulnerable groups, as well as ▲ health management programs and other human care activities, will be implemented in parallel.

The project also includes practical improvements to the residential environment, such as repairs to aging houses, replacement of slate roofs, and demolition of vacant or abandoned houses, which are expected to significantly enhance residents' satisfaction.

Last year, Yeongju City also had three areas?Sutgol in Yeongju 1-dong, Yongsang 2-ri in Isan-myeon, and Jigok 1-ri in Pyeongeun-myeon?selected for the same project. With the addition of two more areas this year, the city has secured a total of five project sites and approximately 10 billion won in project funding over the past two years.

A city official stated, "This selection is more than just winning a competition; it is an opportunity to dramatically improve the quality of life in underdeveloped rural areas. We will continue to make ongoing efforts for urban regeneration and to improve living conditions."