LPG Costs Reduced by Up to 30%,
Solar Power Profits Returned to Villages...
Expanding "Tangible Economic Administration" to Improved Medical Access
The livelihood policies implemented by Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province, are directly reducing residents' living expenses and generating village-level income, establishing an economic structure where "money is saved and money circulates."
Policies introduced by Jung Hyun Park, Mayor of Buyeo County-who is being mentioned as a potential Democratic Party candidate for South Chungcheong Governor in next year's local elections-are being credited with reducing household expenses, returning profits to the community, and alleviating social costs, thereby transforming the economic landscape of rural areas.
According to a comprehensive report by The Asia Business Daily on December 1, Buyeo County's livelihood-focused policies are delivering tangible economic effects by directly lowering residents' living costs and generating income at the village level. Mayor Park's administrative approach is drawing attention as a model for revitalizing local economies.
One of Mayor Park's signature initiatives is the "Household LPG Micro Storage Tank Installation Support Project," launched in 2021.
This project moved away from the traditional gas cylinder delivery system by installing individual storage tanks for each household, allowing residents to pay only for the gas they use. As a result, household energy costs have decreased by 20 to 30 percent.
The impact is especially pronounced during the winter, when heating demand is high, leading to a significant reduction in residents' fixed expenditures.
This initiative not only reduces living expenses but also streamlines the region's overall energy supply structure by cutting costs related to fuel transportation and delivery.
Additionally, the "Village-Scale Small Solar Power Plant Installation Project" is being recognized as a policy with substantial economic impact.
This year, the county selected 10 villages to receive solar power facilities, with the county government covering 83 percent of the project costs. The installed facilities are expected to generate approximately 4.2 million won in net annual profit, which will be returned to residents in the form of a village welfare fund (village pension).
Through this, villages secure stable and predictable financial resources, creating a virtuous economic cycle in which funds are reinvested locally for community center operating expenses, scholarships, and support for vulnerable groups.
This project has also strengthened the community-based economy by encouraging residents to directly participate in the operation, management, and sharing of profits.
Furthermore, the "Companion Service for Elderly Living Alone" is a policy aimed at reducing economic burdens over the long term.
By preventing structural issues where medical costs rise when elderly residents are unable to visit hospitals in a timely manner and their illnesses worsen, the project helps reduce social costs by curbing the increase in local care expenses.
The county has expanded the scope of support to include hospitals outside the area, such as those in Daejeon, Cheonan, and Gunsan, significantly improving access to medical services.
Although the scale of these projects is not large, they are being recognized as structural livelihood policies that create both direct and indirect economic benefits by reducing actual resident expenditures, generating village-level income, and lowering long-term medical costs.
Within the local community, there are expectations that "if Buyeo's livelihood economy model spreads throughout South Chungcheong Province, it could bring about real change in the recovery of rural economies."
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