248 Billion Won Secured Over Two Years
Second Nationwide, First in South Jeolla Province
Goheung County in South Jeolla Province has been selected for the S grade in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 2026 Local Extinction Response Fund investment plan evaluation, securing 8.8 billion won in funding.
The Local Extinction Response Fund is a central government initiative that, from 2022 to 2031, invests 1 trillion won annually over 10 years. Each year, the fund evaluates local governments’ investment plans and allocates resources differentially based on the results, aiming to overcome the crisis of regional extinction through local-led efforts.
Starting in 2026, the evaluation method will be improved by focusing on discovering key projects, expanding the scope of utilization, strengthening appropriateness checks, and identifying program-based projects. Funding will be distributed as follows: 12 billion won to eight outstanding regions, 8.8 billion won to eleven S-grade regions, 8 billion won to thirty A-grade regions, and 7.2 billion won to forty B-grade regions.
Goheung County secured the S grade and 8.8 billion won in funding after undergoing a fair and rigorous verification process, including the first round of business plan and on-site evaluations in July and a face-to-face PPT evaluation in November, among 89 local governments nationwide.
In particular, this year’s evaluation gave high marks for the appropriateness of the investment plan in line with the fund’s objectives, efforts to attract population to the region, revitalization of the local area, and sustainability. The total amount of funding secured over the past two years reached 24.8 billion won, ranking second nationwide and first in South Jeolla Province.
The county has proactively gathered feedback from local residents and project participants in advance, and sought advice from external experts. The business plan was meticulously prepared with a focus on policies to attract young people and expand the residential population, leveraging the county’s key strengths such as the Smart Farm Innovation Valley and Sorokdo Island.
The 2026 Local Extinction Response Fund will focus on the establishment of a “youth entrepreneurship-based smart agriculture, fisheries, and livestock valley” centered around Goheung Bay, based on four main strategies: youth population settlement, support for the elderly population, expansion of the residential population, and interconnection and cooperation.
County Governor Gong Youngmin stated, “The investment plan tailored to the purpose of the Local Extinction Response Fund was highly evaluated,” and added, “We will create a new model to restore vitality to the region and overcome the crisis of local extinction through efficient management and operation of the fund projects.”
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