8th Popularly Elected Hamyang Administration Unveils Blueprint for Urban Development, Economy, Tourism, and Welfare

Preparing in Earnest for the Future
with the Vision of "A Millennium Forest, A New Century"

Hamyang County in South Gyeongsang Province announced on January 26 that it held the "2026 New Year's Meeting with Reporters" in the main conference room of the county office, where it explained the current status of major policies under the 8th popularly elected administration and outlined the direction for county governance in 2026 under the theme "A Millennium Forest, A New Century."

The meeting was organized to share the progress of key policies and projects pursued so far, to explain policy plans for 2026 in areas such as urban development, the economy, tourism, and welfare, and to enhance understanding of the county's governance direction through a Q&A session with reporters.

To strengthen field-oriented administration, Hamyang County has expanded communication at the village level alongside inspections of major project sites. Starting in 2025, the county will continue its efforts to incorporate residents' opinions into administration by launching "On-site Village Meetings" for local villages.

Photos from the New Year's meeting with reporters covering Hamyang County.

Additionally, Hamyang County reported that the 59.5-kilometer Jirisan Scenic Road has been designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as Korea's first official tourist road, and the construction of the National Southern Wildfire Prevention Center has been finalized, establishing Hamyang as a key hub for wildfire prevention in the southern region. The county has also taken proactive administrative steps, including: the nation's first dormitory exclusively for seasonal workers, the development of a mechanized onion farming model, the operation of a nature recreation forest specialized for companion animals, the opening of Gyeongnam's first non-stop integrated care center, and the launch of a goat auction market.

Hamyang County's total budget for 2026 is 708 billion won, marking the first time the county's budget has surpassed 700 billion won.

This represents an increase of 146.8 billion won (26.2%) compared to 2022. The budget has been primarily allocated to areas closely related to residents' daily lives, such as social welfare and health (21.8%), and agriculture, forestry, marine, and fisheries (21.3%).

For 2026, Hamyang County has set the following core principles for governance: substantive change rather than superficial displays, administration that adheres to principles and procedures, and phased, sustainable implementation. In particular, the county has made tangible changes experienced by residents in their daily lives the main goal for the year, and will accelerate transformation across four key sectors: urban development, the economy, tourism, and welfare.

In the urban sector, the county will create a safer and more pleasant urban environment through undergrounding of power lines in downtown areas, traffic calming measures, installation of roundabouts, and expansion of small-scale parking lots. The county will also strengthen urban infrastructure and safety systems through the restoration of the Sangnim-Harim ecological corridor, maintenance of water supply networks, and disaster prevention projects.

In the economic sector, Hamyang will enhance agricultural competitiveness by building additional dormitories for seasonal workers, fostering new green bio-industries, and establishing an integrated food support center. The county will also strengthen logistics and industrial infrastructure by expanding major transportation networks such as the Daejeon-Hamyang-Namhae national railway and the Hamyang-Ulsan expressway, and by attracting new businesses.

In the tourism sector, Hamyang will actively promote a grand plan connecting the Jirisan, Sangnim, and Deogyusan regions, launch the "O-reul GO Hamyang" mountain summit certification program, utilize scholarly cultural resources, and expand content at Sangnim Park. These efforts aim to transform Hamyang into a stay-type tourism city and prepare for the "Visit Hamyang Year" in 2027.

In the welfare sector, the county will strengthen support across all stages of life and build a comprehensive, resident-focused welfare system by implementing free bus fares, expanding the "Happy Store" program to all towns and villages, offering on-site neighborhood pharmacists, and increasing vaccination coverage.

Jin Byungyeong, Mayor of Hamyang County, stated, "2026 will be a year to review the policies we have pursued so far and focus on achieving tangible changes in residents' daily lives. We will steadily implement policies tailored to local conditions."