Yeongcheon City Sets Sights on Vigorous Progress in 2026 with the Spirit of "Junmadoyak"

Opening of Kumho-Daechang Hi-Pass IC and Yeongcheon Race Park
Completion of Yeongcheon City Museum and Other Key Infrastructure Projects
Eight Major Administrative Directions Including Urban Rail Extension

Yeongcheon City has designated "Junmadoyak (駿馬跳躍)"-meaning "A Good Horse Leaps Powerfully"-as its New Year's theme for 2026, the Year of the Red Horse (Byeongo Year), and will operate city administration with the goal of making Yeongcheon a hub where businesses and talent gather around an integrated transportation network.

Last year, Yeongcheon City signed an investment agreement worth 160 billion won with Capec Valeo Co., Ltd. and began construction of an electric vehicle battery plant in the Hi-Tech Park District.

Additionally, by dispatching trade delegations to Indonesia and Vietnam, the city signed export MOUs worth 48.93 million dollars, expanding the foundation for local SMEs to enter overseas markets.

Provided by Yeongcheon City

With the completion of the Intelligent IoT Parts Center, the city established a base for logistics parts research and demonstration. The designation of Yeongcheon Cheongjebi as a National Treasure and the opening of the Shin Sung-il Memorial Hall have also increased interest and pride in the region's historical and cultural assets.

The Yeongcheon Scholarship Foundation's fund surpassed 40 billion won, further strengthening the foundation for nurturing talent. The environment for fostering young farmers and promoting high value-added agriculture has also been created, centered on the regionally specialized rental smart farm and the Yeongcheon Garlic Convergence Center.

Furthermore, the increase in direct KTX train services between Yeongcheon and Seoul, the implementation of free metropolitan transportation for those aged 70 and above, and the opening of the National Sports Center have improved mobility and sports conditions, bringing tangible changes to citizens' daily lives.

Various statistical indicators also showed positive trends.

Yeongcheon City achieved significant results in major indicators, including: ▲Ranked first nationwide and first in the province for six consecutive years in total fertility rate in 2024 ▲First in the province and fourth nationwide in employment rate for the first half of 2025 ▲First nationwide in the inflow of returning farmers in 2024 ▲Second grade in overall integrity ▲The only city in the province to see an increase in local corporate income tax for four consecutive years.

In addition, the city received a total of 51 institutional awards in various fields such as employment, agriculture, welfare, and finance, earning high external evaluations.

Yeongcheon City plans to seamlessly complete key projects scheduled for completion this year, such as the opening of the Kumho-Daechang Hi-Pass IC, the opening of Yeongcheon Race Park, and the completion of Yeongcheon City Museum. At the same time, the city has presented eight major administrative directions for the year to drive future growth by promoting 55 government-funded projects selected last year, the extension of urban rail to Yeongcheon, and the creation of large-scale industrial complexes.

◆ Revitalizing the Local Economy and Building a Safe City

The city will invigorate the stagnant old downtown commercial district by revitalizing alley-type shopping districts and fostering specialized markets.

Plans include constructing an underground parking lot at Wansan Shopping District and developing Uroji Premium Food Town to create a downtown commercial area that attracts citizens and tourists.

Additionally, by issuing Yeongcheon Love Gift Certificates worth 90 billion won, the city will boost sales for small businesses and promote a virtuous cycle of local consumption.

An AI-based smart monitoring system will prevent crime and accidents, while the improvement of hazardous areas and disaster prevention projects for floods and river disasters will strengthen the disaster response system.

Through citizen safety insurance, the city will create a safe city that protects citizens from unexpected accidents and disasters.

◆ Expanding Metropolitan Transportation Networks and Building Industrial Foundations

With the Daegu Urban Railway Line 1 extension to Yeongcheon (Kumho) underway, the city aims to open in the early 2030s and will develop the Kumho Station area into a mixed-use living zone integrating transportation, industry, and housing.

With the opening of the Kumho-Daechang Hi-Pass IC, the opening of Yeongcheon Race Park, and the completion of the Kumho General Industrial Complex, the Kumho area is expected to become a new growth hub combining metropolitan transportation, industry, and tourism.

The city will promote the extension of the urban railway from Kumho to downtown Yeongcheon and the construction of a metropolitan railway connecting Dongdaegu, Yeongcheon, and Pohang to enhance urban accessibility and improve mobility in the metropolitan area. At Yeongcheon Station, a metropolitan transfer center will be established to create an integrated transfer system between rail and bus.

In the industrial sector, the city will sequentially complete five industrial complexes, including Yeongcheon Hi-Tech Park District, Gogeong, Daechang, Kumho, and Donam. The city will also expand the smart industrial ecosystem by operating the Intelligent IoT Parts Center, building a Knowledge Industry Innovation Center, and attracting data centers.

The city will also expand the foundation for eco-friendly energy industries by simultaneously promoting biogas-based clean hydrogen production and environmental improvement projects in industrial complexes.

◆ Expanding Stay-Type Tourism and Enhancing Historical and Cultural Prestige

To spread the popularity of the Bohyeonsan Dam Suspension Bridge, which recently surpassed 1 million visitors, throughout the entire Bohyeonsan area, the city will create a wellness stay belt and a healing forest.

At Hwarang Seolhwa Village, unique wine and grape-themed accommodations will be developed to foster the area as a stay-type tourist destination, and a caravan camping site will be established at the Yeongcheon Dam downstream park to expand outdoor leisure infrastructure.

With the construction of Yeongcheon City Museum and Yeongcheon Culture and Arts Center, the city will expand cultural infrastructure. The excavation and restoration of the Wansan-dong Ancient Tombs and the creation of an experiential exhibition hall will revive the historical status of Golbeolguk, developing new cultural resources that blend history and tourism.

◆ Nurturing Future Talent and Creating a Youth-Friendly Residential City

Focusing on the Education Development Special Zone, the city will strengthen care and after-school support, and support youth in planning their futures through the creation of a Dream Experience Center and the hosting of career fairs.

The aging Kumho Gymnasium will be demolished and rebuilt as a school-community complex facility at Kumho Elementary School, creating a living culture space for both students and residents.

The Yeongcheon High School, a public autonomous high school recruiting children of military personnel, will open in March next year and be developed into a prestigious local school, strengthening the foundation as an educational city.

Through projects such as Kumho regionally integrated rental housing, the Wansan K-U City residential environment project, and the Kumho Neighbor Village project, the city will create a youth-friendly city where housing, jobs, and culture are integrated.

◆ Welfare for All

The Child Happiness Center will serve as a childcare support hub combining care, education, and play, while the construction of a senior welfare center and expansion of senior jobs will support an active old age.

The city will continue support for a healthy and comfortable old age, including free bus fares for those over 70 and support for shingles vaccination costs.

The city plans to enable all citizens to enjoy a healthy and vibrant daily life by expanding the foundation for independence for people with disabilities, establishing a new longevity congratulatory allowance for national merit recipients, and building an artificial climbing wall and Bandabi Sports Center.

◆ Creating a Prosperous Rural Area through Agricultural Innovation

The city will establish local food direct sales stores to provide stable sales channels and fresh food, and will strengthen the foundation for advanced agriculture responding to climate change by operating the Kumho rental smart farm, the Buk-an subtropical smart farm, and rental greenhouses.

By building dormitories for agricultural workers in Kumho and Gogeong, the city will address the rural labor shortage and improve employment stability and productivity in the agricultural sector.

◆ Improving Residential Conditions and Expanding Living Infrastructure

The city will ensure clean and stable water supply by improving sewage systems in the upper Yeongcheon Dam area and replacing old water pipes.

Along with the construction of 1,700 public housing units in Hwaryong District and 110 units in Seongnae-dong, the city will steadily promote projects to improve living conditions in vulnerable areas, revitalize rural centers, and create basic living hubs, thereby improving living infrastructure and residential environments throughout all neighborhoods.

The construction of the Dongbu-dong Administrative Welfare Center and the expansion of the road from Dongseo Furniture Samgeori to Sinmangjeong Medical Intersection will enhance daily convenience, while the creation of a public parking lot for freight vehicles will resolve illegal parking issues in the city center.

◆ Realizing Trusted City Administration through Proactive Governance that Citizens Can Feel

The city will strengthen empathetic governance that seeks answers in the field and will quickly resolve everyday inconveniences and regulatory issues by operating a mobile regulatory reporting center, thereby creating changes that citizens can truly feel.

A city official stated, "With the opening of the Kumho-Daechang Hi-Pass IC, the opening of Yeongcheon Race Park, and the completion of Yeongcheon City Museum, this year will be when the projects we have prepared begin to visibly appear in citizens' daily lives. We will also steadily pursue mid- to long-term projects such as the extension of urban rail to Yeongcheon and the creation of large-scale industrial complexes to enhance the city's competitiveness and make this a year of dynamic progress that brings clear changes to everyday life."