Boseong County Launches Full-Scale Local Extinction Response Fund Projects with 33.2 Billion KRW Investment

Kim Cheolwoo Accelerates Efforts to Make Boseong a Place “Where People Return”

South Jeolla Province’s Boseong County is distinguishing itself by launching its “Local Extinction Response Fund Strategic Project,” which focuses on attracting young people and expanding settlement infrastructure as key pillars to overcome the national challenge of local extinction.

From July 7 to 22, the county conducted on-site inspections at major project sites for the Local Extinction Response Fund, including Bongsan-ri in Boseong-eup, Yulpo-ri in Hoecheon-myeon, and the area around Jeamsan Natural Recreation Forest.

This round of on-site inspections went beyond simply checking construction progress. The county analyzed how each project is creating synergy with sector-specific strategies such as youth settlement, tourism revitalization, and the development of cultural infrastructure. It also closely examined the concrete ripple effects of these customized regional strategies on the ground.

The county is also accelerating its spatial strategies to transform the area into a “place to stay” for both young people and tourists. A representative example is the “Boseong Promenade Development Project” in the Yulpo Beach area of Hoecheon-myeon, which aims to transform the coastal area into a community space by establishing cultural venues and a youth start-up street along the shoreline.

With the Jeonnam Namhae Line (Mokpo?Boseong) KTX-Eum set to officially open in September, accessibility between Boseong and major cities in the Seoul metropolitan area and the southern coast will be dramatically improved. This is expected to directly contribute to expanding tourism infrastructure and achieving tangible results.

The “Regional Specialized Tourism Infrastructure Development Project,” underway in Bongsan-ri of Boseong-eup and Yeongcheon-ri of Hoecheon-myeon, is preparing to establish the area as an experiential tourist destination that can be enjoyed regardless of season or time of day, focusing on nightscapes and camping facilities.

The “Green Tea Village Workation Project” within Jeamsan Natural Recreation Forest was completed in July and has now begun full-scale operations. Reflecting the new trend of combining rest and work, this project is attracting attention as a differentiated workation model unique to Boseong County. It utilizes the county’s natural resources to simultaneously attract a living population and create youth jobs.

Policies to support childcare, a core requirement for young people to settle in the region, have also been robustly designed. The “Creating a Youth- and Child-Friendly Care Environment Project,” currently underway in Hoejeong-ri, Beolgyo-eup, will establish a public care space within the Beolgyo Complex Culture Center. The project plans to increase space utilization by operating family-friendly programs linked to various community spaces such as a book cafe, cooking studio, and sports facilities.

Expanding cultural infrastructure is also a crucial factor in improving the quality of youth settlement. Through the “Culture Dreamnarae Shared Hub Project,” the county is remodeling the existing pansori training center and transforming it into an open cultural space for both young people and local residents.

Beyond simply attracting young people, the county is also working to build a sustainable employment ecosystem. The “Second Joseong Industrial Complex Development Project” is a core initiative aimed at attracting manufacturing-based start-ups and creating medium- to long-term jobs. The county also plans to provide administrative support for attracting tenant companies and to further strengthen the foundation for local economic self-reliance.

Kim Cheolwoo, the county governor, stated, “The Local Extinction Response Strategic Project is focused on linking medium- and long-term strategies to ensure sustainable results, rather than just short-term achievements. We will concentrate all administrative capabilities to ensure these efforts lead to outcomes that residents can truly feel.”

Meanwhile, since 2022, the county has secured 33.2 billion KRW from the Local Extinction Response Fund and has been gradually implementing strategic projects to improve settlement conditions, develop cultural infrastructure, create tourism content, and establish industrial complexes to attract young people and increase the living population. The county plans to continue seeking sustainable solutions to make Boseong a place “where people return.”