Yeongwol County: "People Return and Jobs Revitalize"… Completing the Future Roadmap for 2026

County Holds 2026 Major Work Briefing
Full Commitment to Realizing the 'Central City of Southern Gangwon'

Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, announced on January 6 that it held a major work briefing for 2026 on January 5 at the situation room on the 2nd floor of the county office, with all department heads and related officials in attendance.

Yeongwol County held a major business briefing for 2026 on the 5th at the situation room on the 2nd floor of the county office, with all department heads and related officials in attendance. Provided by Yeongwol County

This briefing, marking the final year of the 8th popularly elected administration, was organized to finalize and supplement the discussions from the two previous major work briefings held in September and November last year, all aimed at realizing Yeongwol as the central city of southern Gangwon where people return and jobs are revitalized. The meeting also provided an in-depth review of each department's core policies and implementation strategies.

The county's top priority remains to translate significant governmental achievements into tangible, experience-based policies for residents, and to pass on these results to future generations.

First, with the official launch of the Bongraesan Mountain Landmark Project in September 2026 and the Cheongnyeongpo Garden-which opened last year and attracted 200,000 visitors in just two months-Yeongwol County plans to further develop the areas around Yeongwol Station, the Yeongwol Tourism Center, Cheongnyeongpo, and Jangneung as major tourism hubs. The county will also work to concretely connect the traditional market and other downtown tourism resources.

In particular, Yeongwol County will undertake large-scale renovations of unused spaces around Yeongwol Station and Deokpoli, transforming them into accommodations and youth start-up spaces. These will be linked with diverse tourism content, creating a new welcoming area for visitors. The county also plans to introduce a circular tourist train connecting Cheongnyeongpo Garden and Jangneung. Additionally, half-price travel packages will be strategically linked to the opening of the Bongraesan Mountain Landmark Project, offering local tourists a wider range of experiences and attractions, and thereby stimulating the local economy.

Major steps will also be taken to improve the residential environment in the central area. Following the relocation of the Yeongwol Police Station, the county will explore various ways to utilize the current site and reorganize the functions of the existing urban area, which includes the Yeongwol Police Station, Yeongwol Medical Center, the terminal, the traditional market, and the public bus terminal.

In addition, the county will sequentially respond to urban regeneration projects in the central areas of Yeongheung-ri and Hasong-ri, and gradually improve the transportation system in areas suffering from severe congestion. These efforts are aimed at accelerating the provision of comprehensive living infrastructure for residents, including administration, education, healthcare, culture, and transportation.

With the construction of the Jecheon-Yeongwol Expressway set to begin in the first half of 2026, the Deokpoli area will become a new gateway to Yeongwol. The site preparation for the relocation of the police station and medical center will be completed by November this year, with construction of the new police station set to begin next year. This will kick off further development of new urban areas, including the Donggang Yeongwol The Well Town and the Deokpo District Urban Development Project.

The Rural Boarding Program, launched to prevent school closures, has successfully attracted 237 students and their families, establishing Yeongwol as the leading destination for rural boarding education. The pilot project for the Special Education Development Zone, selected in July 2024, will be closely monitored for effectiveness to ensure Yeongwol is promoted to a leading region by 2026, with continued support for attracting students to rural areas.

Various initiatives to foster future industries and revitalize the local economy were also discussed. The core materials industrial complex, to be established in Nokjeon-ri, Sansol-myeon, will attract upstream and downstream related industries, build a value chain, nurture future industries, and provide quality jobs. The county also plans to restructure rural spaces and develop residential and living infrastructure. Furthermore, the Drone Flight Research Center, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, will complete the drone industry cluster in Deokpoli, with national drone R&D projects also being steadily prepared.

Choi Myungseo, Mayor of Yeongwol County, stated, "The Year of the Red Horse in 2026 will be the starting point for real change in Yeongwol's future," adding, "We will further enhance and advance the projects of the 8th administration, delivering tangible results that improve the lives of our residents."