A Main Budget of 708 Billion Won Allocated for 2026 to Ensure Sustainable Development
Aiming to Improve Residents' Quality of Life Across Tourism, Infrastructure, Agriculture, and More
Jin Byungyoung, Mayor of Hamyang County, announced the direction of county administration for the coming year while submitting the 2026 budget proposal at the 2nd regular session of the 296th Hamyang County Council on the 25th.
In his policy speech, Mayor Jin stated, "The 2026 budget has been intensively allocated to areas essential for the daily lives of residents, the growth of Hamyang County, and sustainable development," adding, "We will promote various projects for regional economic development and the improvement of resident welfare, including Hamyang-style living SOC projects."
Hamyang County achieved various accomplishments throughout 2025 and is preparing for even greater progress in 2026 based on these achievements.
Mayor Jin emphasized, "Every step we take together with the residents becomes the path and history of Hamyang, and with this sense of duty, we have done our utmost to open a new future," adding, "Hamyang today has grown into a city with greater potential than ever before, and the journey of progress will continue."
Jin Byungyoung, Mayor of Hamyang County, explained the direction of county administration for the next year while submitting the 2026 budget proposal at the 2nd regular meeting of the 296th Hamyang County Council on the 25th.
During the 8th popularly elected administration, Hamyang County's budget increased by approximately 26%, and the additional funds were intensively invested in areas that support sustainable development and directly benefit residents' daily lives.
There have also been significant achievements in expanding transportation infrastructure. Efforts to attract the Daejeon-Hamyang-Namhae railway have gained momentum, and the four-lane expansion of National Road No. 24 (Jigok to Anui) and the two-lane improvement of Local Road No. 37 (Baekjeon to Seoha) have been selected as preliminary feasibility study projects. This expansion of the transportation network is expected to serve as a key foundation for Hamyang to grow as a transportation hub.
In the tourism sector, the "O-reul GO Hamyang" mountain summit certification project has gained national attention, leading to a 26.9% increase in visitors. Hamyang County was named a "Rising City" by the Korea Tourism Organization, and the Jirisan Scenic Road was designated as the nation's first official tourism road, providing an opportunity to promote Hamyang's historical, cultural, and scenic value nationwide.
There have also been meaningful achievements in sports. The Hamyang FC U-18 team won the runner-up title at a national autumn tournament just seven months after its founding, resulting in an inflow of 62 new residents. Furthermore, the 2027 Gyeongnam Provincial Sports Festival has been confirmed to be jointly hosted by Hamyang, Sancheong, Geochang, and Hapcheon counties, which is expected to be a turning point for regional sports development.
In the agricultural sector, the Seasonal Worker Support Center has assisted about 1,400 farms each year, and Hamyang was selected as an exemplary case of rural regeneration. Securing funds for the construction of a second dormitory has laid the foundation for alleviating labor shortages in agriculture.
The Nui Center, a complex community center, is under construction with completion scheduled for next year, and 122 rental housing units are also expected to be completed, strengthening the settlement base for returnees and young people. Policies to attract young people, such as the Worker in Hamyang project and the Baekdudaegan Garden & Cafe project, are being actively pursued, while the "Welcome House" project, which remodels vacant houses, is reducing the housing burden for returnees.
Hamyang County has finalized the 2026 budget at a total of 708 billion won and plans to implement various projects to improve residents' quality of life and promote regional development. This budget represents a 26% increase compared to 2022 and is expected to meet residents' expectations and serve as an important foundation for sustainable development.
Focusing on tourism in the Sangnim area, Hamyang County will systematically establish the "Hamyang Tourism Grand Plan," connecting "O-reul GO Hamyang," the Seonbi Culture Belt, mountain leisure sports, the Jirisan and Deogyusan Dulle-gil trails, and the Jirisan Scenic Road into a single axis. To this end, 36.8 billion won has been allocated to the culture and tourism sector to develop new tourism resources centered on the central region, including Hamyang, Sudong, and Jigok, and to revitalize the local economy.
Convenience facilities on the Jirisan Scenic Road, the nation's first official tourism road, will be improved, and the "Double Mountain Mountain Tourism Belt," connecting Jirisan and Deogyusan, will be promoted to provide opportunities for mountain leisure sports.
To ensure residents can live in a safer and more pleasant environment, 96.2 billion won has been allocated to safety and environmental sectors to establish a comprehensive safety net. Comprehensive maintenance projects for water and sewage systems and climate change response will be carried out, focusing on the southern region, which is vulnerable to natural disasters such as landslides, floods, and typhoons.
To enhance the sustainability of agriculture, 141 billion won, or 19.92% of the total budget, has been allocated to the agriculture, forestry, and livestock sectors to promote rural restructuring, smart agriculture, climate change response, and generational transition.
In the social welfare sector, 127.3 billion won has been allocated, including the expansion of customized support projects for each stage of life. The youth voucher support age will be expanded from 9 to 12, and newlywed marriage support will be increased from 5 million won to 10 million won. Support for the Housing Nest Project will also be expanded from 3 million won to 30 million won, providing substantial assistance to households establishing new homes.
To strengthen the foundation for industrial development and attract businesses, 21 billion won will be invested in the industry and small business sectors. The county will focus on developing an 8 million square meter industrial and logistics complex in the Singwan District to supply industrial land in a timely manner in response to corporate investment demand. By developing competitive industrial sites, the county aims to attract investment from various industries, create jobs, revitalize the economy, and ultimately establish a virtuous cycle leading to population inflow.
Mayor Jin Byungyoung emphasized, "We will make 2026 a pivotal year for opening a new future for Hamyang," adding, "We will do our utmost to create a Hamyang where children can pursue their dreams, seniors are respected, and young people return and settle."
He also pledged, "In 2026, we will continue to focus solely on the residents, approach matters with greater humility and deeper consideration, and open up the future of Hamyang," adding, "Our top priority will be to make Hamyang a place where the lives of every single resident improve."
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