Damyang-gun County Chief Park Jong-won marked his 100th day in office Wednesday, saying he would focus on policies that deliver tangible results for residents — including income stability, expanded care services and the development of future-oriented agriculture.
Park outlined the key policy directions for the ninth directly elected county administration, centered on realizing what he called "a happier Damyang where everyone thrives together."
On income, the county plans to expand a program that distributes earnings from resident-participatory solar power generation — dubbed "sunshine income" — alongside a basic income initiative.
In the care sector, the county will strengthen two programs: a lifestyle emergency service called "Eonneung Osyo," which links at-risk households with home repair and other support, and an integrated care service covering housekeeping, meals, health management and hospital accompaniment.
Starting in 2027, the county will also pilot an "Emergency Care SOS" program providing vulnerable residents who need nursing care due to illness or injury with up to 1.5 million won ($1,120) once a year.
In agriculture, the county will develop a 20-hectare smart farming zone and a rental-type smart farm, and will work with research institutions to develop agricultural robots that automate strawberry planting, pest control, harvesting and transport.
For tourism, the county is pursuing a "Dambich Four Seasons Festa" linking festivals across all four seasons, as well as a 41.2-kilometer circular eco-trail around the Damyang Lake area.
The county is in talks to extend Gwangju city bus and Damyang rural bus routes and build an integrated transfer system. A feasibility study for extending the Gwangju Cheomdan–Damyang-eup urban rail line is planned for January next year.
To strengthen the implementation of ninth-term campaign pledges, the county has launched a 30-member advisory body of experts drawn from various fields.
The committee, organized into six subcommittees covering future agriculture, economic vitality, welfare, culture and tourism, education and administrative innovation, reviewed the feasibility and implementation plans for 79 campaign pledges. The county plans to finalize and release the results Thursday.
"If the past 100 days were about setting Damyang's direction together with residents, the time ahead must be about delivering results," Park said. "Damyang will lead balanced development in the integrated special city as the central hub of the northern region."
sij@heraldcorp.com
