[Interview] Kim Hakdong, Governor of Yecheon County: Designing the Future Through Balanced Development of New City and Original Downtown, Sports, Tourism, and Agriculture

Gateway to Becoming North Gyeongsang's Central City
Yecheon Sets Ambitious Goal of a "Living Population of 10 Million"

In response to the structural challenges of local extinction and population decline, Yecheon County is seeking new solutions for growth. Kim Hakdong, Governor of Yecheon County, has set forth the ambitious goal of achieving a "living population of 10 million." He unveiled a future vision that includes the completion of the new city, coexistence with the original downtown, and balanced development across education, sports, tourism, and agriculture.

Meeting between Kim Hakdong, Yecheon County Governor (left), and our reporter

◆ Gateway to Becoming the Central City of North Gyeongsang Province

Regarding the core task of new city development in Yecheon, Governor Kim stated, "Completing the new city as soon as possible is our biggest challenge. We are expanding lifestyle facilities such as a complex community center, family park, park golf course, and national sports center. We are also developing Songpyeongcheon Cultural Park and the Creative Science Talent Education Center," he said. "By creating a nature-friendly urban environment, we are transforming Yecheon into a city with favorable living conditions."

◆ Active Attraction of Businesses and Institutions

Governor Kim emphasized, "The North Gyeongsang Human Resources Development Institute will open in September, and provincial agencies such as the North Gyeongsang Sports Council are preparing to relocate. Starting with the completion of the KT Cloud Data Center, an advanced industrial complex of about 264,000 square meters will be established. We also plan to attract a knowledge industry center, a national e-sports training center, and a global regenerative medical industry, thereby creating quality jobs."

◆ Balanced Coexistence Between the Original Downtown and the New City

As for revitalizing the original downtown, Governor Kim stressed, "The new city alone cannot develop. In the original downtown, we have established the Dan Saem Community Center, Youth Center, Ai Sarang Safety Care Center, and Lifelong Learning Center to expand leisure and learning spaces for residents."

"The new buildings for the Yecheon Office of Education and the public library will soon be completed. The undergrounding of power lines and modernization of signage are also improving the urban landscape, bringing renewed vitality to the original downtown," he said.

◆ Targeting a Living Population of 10 Million: Sports and Tourism as Key Drivers

As a strategy to counter local extinction, he said, "We have established a five-year plan to achieve a living population of 10 million by 2030, with sports marketing, tourism policies, and festival revitalization as the core elements."

"By hosting international track and field and archery competitions, training camps, and community sports events such as park golf and Gran Fondo, we are positioning Yecheon as a 'sports mecca.' In tourism, we are developing destination-style attractions including the Hoeryongpo and Samgang electric vehicle routes, a large observatory, and the Geumdangsil Geumgok Ecological Park," he emphasized.

◆ Developing Festivals and Local Cuisine

Governor Kim stated, "We are making our signature festivals-such as the Insect Festival, Archery Festival, and Agricultural Products Festival-even more attractive. Furthermore, with the completion of the Yecheon Hanwoo Specialty Center, we will develop signature local foods, including Hanwoo beef, to provide rich content that both tourists and residents can enjoy."

◆ Smart Agriculture and Yecheon Hanwoo at the Center of Future Farming

On strengthening agricultural competitiveness, he said, "We are investing 50 billion KRW in Maechang-ri, Jibo-myeon to establish a 'Digital Innovation Agricultural Town.' Our goal is to foster young farmers and integrate advanced agricultural technologies. We will sequentially introduce rental smart farms, vertical farms, and insect silkworm industry complexes to lay the foundation for young entrepreneurs in agriculture."

In particular, the Yecheon Hanwoo Specialty Center will operate a system that integrates slaughter, processing, packaging, and sales, aiming to both upgrade the brand and revitalize the market.

◆ A Prestigious Educational City: Welfare Defines Urban Quality

Emphasizing Yecheon's leap as an educational city, Governor Kim said, "Yecheon has been designated as a future education district and an educational development special zone. We are promoting native English education, overseas training, college entrance consulting, and the establishment of a creative science education center. In cooperation with Seoul City, we will introduce the online education platform 'Seoul Learn' to provide students with access to high-quality lectures anytime."

◆ Regarding Welfare Policy, he said, "The quality of a city is determined by its welfare," and has strengthened support for seniors by offering free public transportation for those aged 70 and above, customized care, and the Happiness Helper program.

He also announced, "A public postpartum care center is scheduled to open next year, and by operating the Ai Sarang Safety Care Center and a 24-hour care center, we are reducing the burden on parents."

◆ Turning Crisis into Opportunity with Residents

Governor Kim stated, "Even amid crises such as COVID-19 and flood damage, Yecheon has never stopped. We have done our best to ensure balanced development between the new city and the original downtown, as well as in all areas including education, welfare, agriculture, tourism, and sports. Moving forward, together with our residents, we will continue to develop Yecheon into the central city of North Gyeongsang Province."

According to this newspaper's reporter, Governor Kim Hakdong's strategy for Yecheon County goes beyond simple regional development. The balanced approach between the new city and the original downtown, and the integration of sports, tourism, and agriculture, represent an experimental and challenging effort to directly confront the crisis of local extinction. Whether the goal of a "living population of 10 million" can become a reality remains to be seen, but Yecheon's grand vision is drawing attention as a future model for local regions beyond North Gyeongsang Province.

Kim Hakdong, Yecheon County Governor, is being interviewed by a reporter from this newspaper.