Happy Rural Forum Held to Share 2026 Project Direction and Support System
Expanding Resident Participation and Consensus Through Plays and Case Presentations
On December 29, Gyeongju City held the Happy Rural Forum at Alcheon Hall in City Hall to officially launch the resident-led “Gyeongju-Style Village Development” project, which reflects the unique characteristics of the local community.
This forum was organized to share the direction of the Gyeongju-Style Village Development project, which will begin next year, and to build consensus by encouraging residents to actively discuss the development of their villages.
More than 200 people attended the event, including village representatives, residents, and public officials in charge of towns, townships, and neighborhoods.
The Gyeongju-Style Village Development project breaks away from the conventional approach of simply creating new facilities. Instead, it is a resident-led initiative in which villagers directly identify local issues and establish and implement plans for utilizing communal facilities and fostering development.
The project is characterized by its phased support system, tailored to each village's conditions and capabilities. Through this approach, Gyeongju City aims to build a sustainable foundation for village management, rather than just expanding facilities in a superficial manner.
During the forum, the background of the project, the step-by-step support system, and a roadmap focused on preemptive capacity-building were introduced. There were also explanations about the preparation procedures and key details for participating in the project.
In particular, the play “Reviving Banwol Village” performed by the Emille Theater Company received an enthusiastic response from the residents.
The play helped improve understanding by presenting the often confusing project guidelines and the values and significance of village development through relatable stories from daily life.
Park Chandone, a professor at Kyungwoon University and a member of the Central Planning Support Group for Rural Regeneration Projects at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, gave a presentation on the new paradigm for Gyeongju-Style Village Development. He emphasized the importance of identifying specialized projects tailored to each village’s circumstances and connecting them to regional innovation initiatives.
Lee Minseok, Operations Committee Chairman of the Okgyegwon Area in Yeongdeok, shared examples of village development projects, stating, “The success or failure of these projects depends on resident participation, cooperation, and the responsible fulfillment of roles.”
Maeng Youngseon, the leader of Boduk-dong Unit 11, shared experiences from the Angok-dong Smart Farmers Association in Gyeongju, describing the process of preparing for the village development project and building a sense of community, and highlighting the positive changes brought about by resident-led activities.
Joo Nakyoung, Mayor of Gyeongju, stated, “Village development is not simply about building new facilities, but a process in which residents themselves identify and solve problems. We will systematically strengthen residents’ capabilities through education and consulting, and support these efforts so that they can be gradually established in accordance with the unique conditions of each village.”
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