Turning the Crisis of Regional Extinction into a Springboard for New Opportunities and Growth
Building a Sustainable Geochang
Gu Inmo, Mayor of Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province, submitted a budget proposal of 831.3 billion won for next year to the 290th regular session of the Geochang County Council and outlined the direction for county administration in 2026 through his policy speech.
According to Geochang County on December 8, 26 out of 57 pledges were completed this year, achieving a pledge implementation rate of 72.8%. The county also secured 142.2 billion won in public contest selections and received 1.3 billion won in prize money from 29 external awards.
The county’s most significant achievements this year include being the only one among 226 local governments nationwide to be designated as a WHO Age-Friendly City, a Youth-Friendly City, and a Women-Friendly City, following last year’s World Health Organization certification. Additionally, construction began on the Geochang crematorium “Cheonsang Park” and the Geochang Medical Welfare Town.
Furthermore, regarding the goal of developing Geochang into a tourism city utilizing the East-West-North-South Tourism Belt, as announced in last year’s policy speech, the county highlighted the successful hosting of four-season festivals such as the On Spring Festival, the large influx of visitors to tourist attractions like Gamaksan Star Wind Hill, Geochang Changpowon, the Forest Leisure Sports Park, and the Anti-Aging Healing Land, as well as the consecutive hosting of KBS’s two major music events, Open Concert and National Singing Contest. These efforts have expanded cultural opportunities for residents and contributed to a virtuous cycle in the local economy through tourism.
In the population and education sector, the county plans to implement various policies that enable young people to plan their futures locally. These include promoting youth-friendly city projects with youth participation, commencing construction of the Youth Startup Support Center, expanding the Dream Voucher program for elementary students, and carrying out detailed action plans to achieve a living population of one million.
In the medical and welfare sector, Cheonsang Park crematorium will be completed, and construction will begin in 2026 on the public postpartum care center, Happiness Cancer Center, and Childcare Dream Center within the Geochang Medical Welfare Town. The Geochang Elementary School complex will be implemented based on community demand, laying the foundation for the “Child Heaven 012 Care” policy. The county will also strengthen the public healthcare and welfare safety net through Geochang-style care projects using regional integrated care centers, and by linking the Dalbit Children’s Hospital and nighttime pharmacies.
In the urban environment sector, the county will develop plans to utilize the existing site following the completion of the Geochang Branch Office land exchange and will complete the second section of the Geyeolsanseong access road, finalizing the northern urban bypass network. The value of the city will be enhanced through urban regeneration projects in the traditional market district and Gimcheon district. The county will also operate a disaster management system that ensures safety year-round by rebuilding Bridge No. 1 in Geochang-eup, improving flood-prone areas in Gimcheon-ri and Gogyuncheon, and implementing disaster prevention projects in Yanggi and Eumgi to address flood risks from heavy rainfall.
Additionally, to respond to climate change, the county will expand urban carbon sinks by completing urban forests and commencing construction of the Urban Wind Path Forest, thereby building a green network. The municipal solid waste incineration facility is scheduled to begin construction next year.
In the culture, arts, and sports sector, the Geochang Art Gallery will break ground next year, and the Suseungdae Turtle Theater will be expanded as an eco-friendly venue for the Geochang International Theater Festival, hosting opening and closing ceremonies. The county will complete sports facilities such as park golf courses in all towns and townships, as well as soccer and futsal fields in the second Changpowon, creating an environment where all residents can enjoy sports and attracting national tournaments. In particular, for the 2027 Gyeongnam Provincial Sports Festival, which will be co-hosted by four counties in western Gyeongnam, the county will establish a dedicated planning team for thorough preparation.
In the tourism sector, in celebration of the 2026 Year of Visiting Geochang, the county will integrate and differentiate all tourism resources, including four-season festival brands and specialized projects in the Healing Industry Special Zone, to achieve the goal of attracting 10 million visitors. Geochang Changpowon will host the 2026 Garden Industry Expo and launch the Ecotourism Culture Complex Project to pursue designation as the nation’s third national garden.
Suseungdae will undergo a rejuvenation project that combines healing and activity to revitalize aging tourist sites, while Gamaksan Star Wind Hill will address visitor transportation inconveniences and develop a forest campground, aiming to become a stay-type healing tourism city.
In the agricultural sector, the county will establish a smart agriculture development zone to serve as a smart farm hub in northwestern South Gyeongsang Province and prepare for smart agriculture innovation that overcomes climate change by creating the nation’s largest open-field smart orchard complex. The Organic Agriculture Complex Center will break ground next year, and the county will strengthen its public food management system by directly operating the Food Integrated Support Center and the Food Comprehensive Center.
In the economic and industrial sector, the county will create jobs by developing the Geochang Advanced General Industrial Complex site in phases and attracting companies in advance. The county also plans to enhance the competitiveness of tenant companies by installing a dedicated interchange directly connecting the Gwangju-Daegu Expressway and the industrial complex. Additionally, the county is determined to secure the Geochang pumped-storage power plant to prepare for the next 100 years of the Geochang economy.
Mayor Gu Inmo stated, “In 2026, we will turn the challenges of climate change and regional extinction into new opportunities and a springboard for growth. Together with the residents, we will design the future transformation of Geochang and achieve an even greater Geochang.”
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