'Population Decline' Incheon’s Ganghwa, Ongjin, and Dong Districts Form 'Local Revitalization' Partnerships with Public Institutions

Incheon’s Ganghwa County, Ongjin County, and Dong District-areas experiencing population decline-are forming mutually beneficial sisterhood partnerships with central government ministries and public institutions. Together, they will promote various exchange programs to revitalize the local economy.

According to Incheon City on October 2, this “Local Revitalization Sisterhood Partnership,” which is gaining momentum ahead of Chuseok, is a government-wide initiative focused on group visits to areas with declining populations and joint purchases of local specialty products.

Ganghwa County will collaborate with five public institutions, including the Overseas Koreans Agency, Korea Copyright Protection Agency, and National Institute for Lifelong Education, to promote the sale of specialty products, participate in the Hometown Love Donation program, and facilitate exchanges at local festivals and events. At Dongmak Beach and Minmeoru Beach in Ganghwa, which attracted many tourists this summer, a “plogging” activity-walking along the beach while picking up trash-is also planned.

Incheon Ongjin County Office Exterior View

Ongjin County, which consists solely of 115 islands including 24 inhabited ones, will focus on developing new sales channels for seafood and other specialty products and will operate exchange programs utilizing tourism resources such as the Deokjeokdo Natural Recreation Forest. The county will also offer security experience programs that leverage the unique characteristics of the five West Sea islands and will conduct Hometown Love Donation activities in collaboration with the Overseas Koreans Agency.

Dong District, the original city center of Incheon, will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea Press Foundation to promote its signature festival, the Hwadojin Festival, as well as its tourism resources. The district will also support local businesses in expanding their sales channels and promote the Hometown Love Donation program.

An official from Incheon City stated, “We will provide our fullest support to ensure that this sisterhood partnership serves as a catalyst for new vitality in Ganghwa County, Ongjin County, and Dong District.”