Ministry of Interior, travel platform forge public-private partnership linking environmental cleanups to local tourism

The Ministry of Interior and Safety signed a public-private MOU with travel platform Yeogieoddae on Wednesday at the company's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, aimed at promoting local environmental cleanup and boosting regional economies.

The agreement links the ministry's resident-led environmental cleanup campaign, "Our Neighborhood Makeover," with Yeogieoddae's corporate social responsibility program, "Sseu-bong Club," to build a new public-private cooperation model that uses travel to improve local environments and energize regional economies.

Under the MOU, the ministry will build a cooperative framework with local governments, connect regional networks and spread best practices, while Yeogieoddae will plan and operate environmental cleanup programs at major tourist destinations and produce and distribute promotional content.

The joint initiative, "Sseu-bong Club with Our Neighborhood Makeover," is set to tour major tourist destinations nationwide, starting in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, in late August, followed by Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in September and Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, in October.

Kim Min-jae, vice minister of interior and safety, said a clean and well-kept local environment is "the most fundamental lifestyle foundation for improving residents' quality of life and the competitive edge that allows communities to grow." He added that the ministry would continue working with the private sector "to spread a culture of environmental cleanup that anyone can enjoy as part of daily life, and to help local economies and communities thrive together."