Goryeong County, "A Young and Vibrant Future Rural Community, Goryeong Shaped by Gaya"

Support for Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration

On February 24, Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang Province held a public hearing on the “Draft Basic Plan for Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration” at the Gaya Hall on the third floor of the county office.

This public hearing was convened to discuss with residents a statutory plan established under the “Act on Support for Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration,” which came into effect on March 29, 2023. It is a 10-year mid- to long-term plan aimed at resolving haphazard development in rural areas and economic, social, and environmental imbalances, and at promoting the recovery of rural character as a place to live, work, and rest, as well as balanced national development.

Public hearing on the Draft Basic Plan for Rural Spatial Restructuring and Regeneration / Reporter Kim Ihwan

At the hearing, under the vision of “A Young and Vibrant Future Rural Community, Goryeong Shaped by Gaya,” development strategies were presented for each rural revitalization area based on an analysis of rural spatial structures. These included responding to population decline, increasing added value by advancing the structure of the agricultural industry, and creating jobs by fostering strategic industries.

Reflecting the strong interest and expectations of local residents, about 100 people, including residents, experts, and officials from related organizations, attended and engaged in heated discussions. The event was meaningful in that it was not merely a one-way administrative briefing, but a venue for collaborative governance where residents, experts, and the administration jointly designed the rural future of Goryeong.

An official from Goryeong County said, “We plan to finalize the basic plan by this coming March after going through bodies such as the Rural Spatial Policy Deliberation Committee, reflecting the diverse opinions of county residents,” adding, “To restore the unique character of rural areas, we ask for the active interest and cooperation of our residents, and we will faithfully incorporate their opinions to build a sustainable virtuous-cycle rural model.”