City secures 5 billion won in state funds for housing repairs, community space upgrades
An urban renewal project aimed at repairing aging homes and transforming vacant lots and empty houses into community parking areas and rest spaces in underdeveloped parts of Asan, South Chungcheong Province, is now getting underway.
South Chungcheong Province announced Sunday that Asan had been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "Woori Dongne Saligi" (neighborhood revitalization) program, securing 5 billion won ($3.22 million) in state funding.
Asan will direct the 5 billion won in state funds along with 3.33 billion won in local government funds toward the Onju village area of Onyang 6-dong, pursuing community-tailored urban renewal through four initiatives: establishing the Onju Community Center, launching a neighborhood partnership program, building a community safety network and constructing smart, safety-enhanced bus shelters.
South Chungcheong Province conducted a preliminary needs assessment of cities and counties in November last year to prepare for the competitive selection process. From March this year, it provided intensive customized expert consulting through the South Chungcheong Urban Regeneration Support Center.
Through that process, the province worked with specialists in urban regeneration, urban planning and regional development to sharpen project proposals — offering in-depth advisory reviews, refining implementation strategies and identifying ways to incorporate residents' input.
Moon Seok-jun, director of the province's Architecture and Urban Affairs Bureau, said the selection was the result of systematic administrative support, including expert consulting from the earliest stages. "We will continue to actively support urban renewal projects that residents can directly feel the benefits of, and work toward building sustainable residential environments," he said.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
