Government to invest up to 15 billion won in rural infrastructure across 15 districts

Up to 15 billion won ($9.69 million) will be channeled into 15 rural districts nationwide to expand cultural, welfare and lifestyle infrastructure.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Wednesday it had selected 15 new sites for next year's general agricultural and fishing village development project — one district under the rural hub revitalization program and 14 under the basic living base development program.

The project aims to build out basic living infrastructure — including cultural, welfare and leisure facilities — in the town and township centers of rural areas, and to extend those services to surrounding villages to improve residential conditions and residents' quality of life.

Gwansan-eup in South Jeolla Province's Jangheung-gun was selected for the rural hub revitalization program. Eight locations were chosen for Phase 1 of the basic living base development program: Namjong-myeon in Gyeonggi Province's Gwangju, Saenggeuk-myeon in North Chungcheong Province's Eumseong-gun, Sosu-myeon in Goesan-gun, Sonbul-myeon in South Jeolla Province's Hampyeong-gun, Jukgok-myeon in Gokseong-gun, Woldeung-myeon and Hwangjeon-myeon in Suncheon, and Sangdong-myeon in South Gyeongsang Province's Miryang. Six sites were selected for Phase 2: Gaegun-myeon in Gyeonggi Province's Yangpyeong-gun, Mureungdowon-myeon in Gangwon Province's Yeongwol-gun, Samae-myeon in North Jeolla Province's Namwon, Haseo-myeon in Buan-gun, Moksadong-myeon in South Jeolla Province's Gokseong-gun, and Mongtan-myeon in Muan-gun.

Starting next year, selected sites will receive funding over five years — up to 15 billion won per district under the rural hub revitalization program, up to 6 billion won per site under Phase 1 of the basic living base program, and up to 2 billion won per site under Phase 2.

Gwansan-eup in Jangheung-gun, the rural hub revitalization site, plans to merge its administrative welfare center and cultural welfare center into a single facility, providing cultural, welfare and administrative services under one roof. The ministry said it expects the project to strengthen both residents' daily convenience and health promotion services.

Seo Jeong-ho, head of the ministry's rural regeneration support team, said the general agricultural and fishing village development project is "a core initiative that expands the basic living infrastructure rural areas need and connects hub services to surrounding villages." He added that the ministry would push ahead without delay "so that residents can feel a real improvement in their quality of life."