"From a Passing Tourist Spot to a Place to Stay"... Wando County Goes All-In on 12 Billion Won 'Healing Project'

Achieves Top "Excellent" Grade in Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Local Extinction Response Fund Evaluation

9.3 Billion Won for Infrastructure, 2.7 Billion Won for Healing and Residency Programs in Dual-Track Investment

Wando County in South Jeolla Province is leveraging its identity as an "Island of Healing" to tackle the crisis of population decline.

On February 27, Wando County announced that it had received the highest grade of "Excellent" in the "2026 Local Extinction Response Fund Evaluation" organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, securing 12 billion won in national funding. Using this as seed money, the county will vigorously pursue 13 key projects aimed at revitalizing the local community and expanding the resident population.

Perspective Rendering of the Wando-gun Nohwa to Soan Island Bridge Construction. Photo by Lee Jungkyung

In this year’s evaluation, Wando County received high marks for presenting a population policy centered on the healing industry, which integrates marine and forest resources. The secured fund of 12 billion won will be allocated into two main categories: 9.3 billion won for hardware and 2.7 billion won for software. The funds will be used to improve settlement conditions for children and adolescents and to establish an integrated living sphere for island residents.

First, the hardware sector (9.3 billion won) will focus on expanding infrastructure that can be used by both residents and visitors. Major projects include: ▲ establishing a forest healing facility ▲ creating a Blue Healing Garden ▲ constructing public rental housing for young people ▲ building the Nohwa~Soan Island connecting bridge ▲ remodeling urban children's parks, among others.

The software sector (2.7 billion won) will feature a variety of programs to attract both short-term and relationship-based population inflows. Initiatives include: ▲ Wando Watsseom Healing Pass ▲ operation of a Healing Shuttle Bus ▲ "Island (Some) Chilling Busking" ▲ a marine healing sports platform ▲ Wando-style long-term marine healing programs, all designed to create an environment where visitors can stay longer rather than just pass through as tourists.

Additionally, the county is drawing attention with economic revitalization measures aimed at attracting young people. By collaborating with local research institutes, Wando intends to support youth entrepreneurship in the "Blue Food" sector, thereby creating quality jobs.

Through this project, the county plans to establish a "comprehensive population policy model" that encompasses various healing industries such as forestry, food, and scenery. The core objective is to transform the region from a mere tourist destination into a "healing hub" where people choose to stay.

A Wando County official stated, "We will develop detailed implementation plans for each department so that the project visions we have presented can lead to tangible results for the region," adding, "We will continue to monitor the progress of these initiatives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.