Response to Regional Extinction Crisis: 10 Locations Including Taebaek City Selected for ‘Regional Vitality Town Project’

8 Central Ministries’ Collaborative Project
Up to 2 billion KRW in National Funding for Infrastructure
Support for Real Population Influx and Settlement,

View of Taebaek City [Photo Courtesy of Kangwon Domin Ilbo]

, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced on the 21st that Taebaek City and nine other locations have been selected as part of the ‘2025 Regional Vitality Town Development Project’ in response to the local extinction crisis by leveraging regional characteristics.”,
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, ‘The Regional Vitality Town project is a collaboration among eight ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.’,
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, ‘The project aims to improve living conditions in rural areas and support the real influx and settlement of populations by creating complex spaces that combine residential and living infrastructure with services. It was first introduced in 2023.’,
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, ‘This year, the selected sites include Taebaek City in Gangwon, Jeungpyeong County in Chungbuk, Buyeo and Cheongyang Counties in Chungnam, Sunchang and Jangsu Counties in Jeonbuk, Gangjin and Yeongam Counties in Jeonnam, Yecheon County in Gyeongbuk, and Hadong County in Gyeongnam.’,
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, ‘The selected projects will receive up to 2 billion KRW in national funding for creating infrastructure, and the associated local governments will receive support for inter-departmental projects they choose autonomously to maximize the effectiveness of the projects.’,
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, ‘Taebaek City, which is establishing an industrial complex related to clean energy, will build rental housing and establish an elderly-friendly National Sports Center to attract and settle industrial workers.’,
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, ‘Jeungpyeong County plans to develop multifamily housing and townhouses for young workers in connection with nearby industrial complexes like the 2nd General Industrial Complex and Doan Technovalley. Gangjin County will use the site of the former Seonghwa University campus for providing condominium and townhouse housing, while Yeongam County will supply detached townhouses and establish infrastructure for an eco-friendly smart residential complex.’,
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, ‘Sunchang County will build public rental and detached housing to cater to diverse demands from urban retirees, young workers, and returnees to rural areas. Hadong County plans to create an income-generating rural residence complex utilizing strawberries, a local specialty.’,
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, ‘An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport stated, “To overcome the crisis of regional extinction and invigorate local communities, cooperation between the government and local governments is essential. We will actively promote regional revitalization with the selected Regional Vitality Town projects as the centerpiece in collaboration with related ministries.”