[Exclusive] Hamyang Residents Unite for Yongchu Valley Development ... Petition Delivered to County Governor

6,410 County Residents Sign Petition, Urgent Call for Economic Recovery in Anui-myeon
Demand for Expanded Tourism Infrastructure in Yongchu Valley

Attention is being drawn to the actions of Jeong Yeonil, Chairman of the Anui-myeon Village Leaders Council, and local residents, who, together with the Yongchu Valley Development Committee in Hamyang County, Gyeongsangnam-do, are calling for the revitalization of Yongchu Valley tourism and the recovery of the stagnant Anui-myeon local economy.

The Development Committee and the Village Leaders Council recently delivered a petition with 6,410 signatures from county residents, along with a formal proposal, to Jin Byungyoung, County Governor of Hamyang. They officially requested road improvements and the establishment of tourism infrastructure in the Yongchu Valley area.

Jin Byungyoung, the mayor of Hamyang County, is having a conversation with the residents of Anui-myeon. At the scene, Jeong Yeonil, the chairman of the Anui-myeon Village Leaders Association, is proposing the revitalization of Yongchu Valley.

In the proposal, they stated, "Although Yongchu Valley is a representative tourism resource of Hamyang, the continued decrease in visitors is due to the narrow access roads and a lack of parking and convenience facilities. The stagnation in tourism is directly leading to the contraction of the Anui-myeon commercial district and an overall downturn in the local economy."

According to local residents, in the Anui-myeon area, there has been a continued decline in sales and shortened business hours, particularly in the restaurant and lodging industries, as well as an increase in vacant stores. The outflow of younger generations is also causing a rapid decline in the vibrancy of the local commercial sector.

Jeong Yeonil, Chairman of the Anui-myeon Village Leaders Council, emphasized, "As the number of tourists visiting Yongchu Valley decreases, the economic downturn felt by merchants and residents in Anui-myeon has reached a very serious level. The petition signed by 6,410 county residents is an urgent demand that the recovery of the local economy through tourism revitalization can no longer be delayed."

The proposal includes: ▲ expansion and paving of the Yongchu Valley access road and enhancement of safety facilities ▲ improvement of parking lots, walkways, and rest areas ▲ establishment of tourism infrastructure for longer stays ▲ creation of tourism routes linked to the Anui-myeon commercial district.

Jin Byungyoung, County Governor, stated, "Yongchu Valley is a core asset for tourism in Hamyang. We will comprehensively review the county's financial situation and mid- to long-term tourism strategies to develop a phased improvement plan."

Meanwhile, residents are raising their voices, saying, "Tourism revitalization must not remain just a slogan. Only with tangible changes such as improved accessibility and expanded infrastructure can the local economy of Anui-myeon breathe again."