A Second Chance to Experience Yeongdeok Life
Applications Open for 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' Session Two
Live, Connect, and Dream by the Sea This September
Attracting young people from outside the region, encouraging them to stay, and helping them settle as part of the resident and relational population is an urgent task for local governments facing the threat of population decline and regional extinction.
Against this backdrop, the 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' project, planned by the Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation, is a local life initiative under the slogan "Let's Make Something Happen in Yeongdeok!" The project gathers young people in Yeongdeok, where they live together in a 100-year-old traditional house, interact with local residents, and work to realize their dreams.
The second session of 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' will begin on September 19th and run for 2 nights and 3 days until September 21st.
This project is part of the 2025 Local Tourism Organization (DMO) Development Support Program. The first session of 'Yeongdeok Walking Day,' held in July, focused on the theme of rural life in Yeongdeok.
Twelve young participants from Seoul, Gyeonggi, Jeolla, and other regions visited Yeongdeok, where they met peers who had returned to the countryside or started farming. Through candid conversations, they learned about both the advantages and the real-life challenges of living in Yeongdeok.
Participants of the first 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' in July who set out for a casual ride by bicycle. Provided by Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation
They also harvested Yeongdeok’s specialty peaches, made preserves, stayed at the traditional Obongjongtaek Hanok, shopped at the local market, and cooked meals together, creating memorable experiences over the course of three days.
On the final day, the participants presented reports outlining the dreams they hoped to achieve in Yeongdeok. Three participants with outstanding ideas were selected through a review process and were given the opportunity to live in Yeongdeok for a month.
The selected ideas included: developing and selling new menu items using Yeongdeok peaches; creating merchandise featuring Yeongdeok characters; and planning experiential travel programs utilizing Yeongdeok’s traditional houses. The three young people with the best ideas began their month-long stays in Yeongdeok at the end of August, working to develop and realize their projects.
Building on the strong interest generated by the first session, the second 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' will focus on life by the sea in Yeongdeok. The program is now recruiting participants in their 20s and 30s until September 10th.
Participants in the second session will enjoy activities such as fishing at sea and surfing, allowing them to fully experience the charm of Yeongdeok’s coast. They will also hear the honest stories of a couple who returned to Yeongdeok to work in the fishing industry, gaining insight into the lives of local residents. In addition, the 'Enjoy Like a Local' program will give participants the chance to experience Yeongdeok’s traditional markets and daily life from a local’s perspective.
The participation fee is 30,000 won per person, which will be fully refunded in the form of Yeongdeok Love Gift Certificates that can be used freely during the program. Accommodation and meals are also provided. After the program, up to three outstanding ideas will be selected based on submitted reports, with each winner receiving up to 1 million won to cover accommodation and project expenses for a one-month stay.
A foundation representative stated, "While the first 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' offered a warm experience of rural life in Yeongdeok, the second session will give young people the chance to truly experience the Yeongdeok sea, recharge their energy, and discover new vitality. We hope that experiencing life by the sea in Yeongdeok will help participants find their own way of living."
Young people interested in participating in the second session of 'Yeongdeok Walking Day' should complete and submit the application form via email by 6:00 p.m. on September 10th.
The application form and detailed information about the program can be found in the notice section of the Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation website. The results of the selection process will be announced individually on September 11th.
The second session of the Yeongdeok Walking Day will begin from September 19th to 21st, lasting for 2 nights and 3 days.
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