Sancheong Governor Yoo Myunghyun Marks 100 Days in Office... “Focusing on Addressing Population Decline and Revitalizing Industry and Economy”

Presentation of Achievements and Four-Year Roadmap at Press Conference

Pursuit of Key Agendas Including Sancheong-Style Basic Income and National Railway Network Inclusion

Yoo Myunghyun, County Governor of Sancheong, announced plans to focus future county administration on addressing population decline, revitalizing industry and economy, welfare, and strengthening safety and on-site communication as he marked his 100th day in office.

On October 1, Governor Yoo held a press conference commemorating his first 100 days in office, where he explained the progress of the county administration and major pending issues, and presented the direction of county policies for the next four years.

[Photo by Soon-Kyung Choi] Yum Myunghyun, Mayor of Sancheong County, explained the progress of county administration and major issues during the 100-day inauguration press conference on the 1st, and revealed the future direction of county administration operations, including responding to population decline and revitalizing industry and economy.

During the conference, Governor Yoo highlighted the following as major policy tasks for the civil administration: response to population decline, revitalization of industry and economy, people- and community-centered welfare, and safety and site-centered communication. He announced plans to concretize projects in each field and to sequentially implement them by securing the necessary resources, including funds from the central and provincial governments.

Governor Yoo cited accomplishments since taking office, including securing project funding related to residents’ livelihoods, the Dansung city gas pipeline construction project, and the inclusion of national highway-related initiatives in state plans.

He also explained that he is actively petitioning the National Assembly and central government agencies regarding Sancheong’s mid- to long-term issues, such as the government’s rural and fishing village basic income project, the construction of a pumped-storage power plant, and the establishment of the national railway network.

◆ Three Months of Sancheong-Style Basic Income Implementation

One of the key issues currently being pursued is the “Sancheong-Style Basic Income Pilot Project.”

From October to December, Sancheong County will implement its own pilot basic income project for three months. County residents who have been registered with a resident address in Sancheong for over 30 days will receive 50,000 won per person per month in the form of local gift certificates. The total project budget is approximately 5.2 billion won. In the case of a four-person household, the monthly payment is 200,000 won.

The county plans to utilize this pilot project as a preliminary step to prepare for the anticipated expansion of the government’s rural and fishing village basic income pilot project. By distributing local vouchers, the county seeks to ensure that the subsidies are spent within the community and plans to expand ZeroPay merchants and related infrastructure.

Sancheong County has also been preparing for this initiative, including providing explanations to town and township residents regarding the project’s objectives and directions in response to the government-led pilot program.

At the press conference, Governor Yoo expressed the intention to demonstrate the commitment of local governments to the pilot project and respond proactively to future government programs through the county’s own initiatives.

◆ Expansion of Transportation Networks Including National Railway Inclusion

Another major issue is the expansion of wide-area transportation networks such as railways.

Governor Yoo explained that efforts are underway, in cooperation with Gyeongsangnam-do and neighboring local governments, to petition for the inclusion of railway network construction connecting western Gyeongsangnam-do in the National Rail Network Construction Plan.

Sancheong County plans to continue petitioning the National Assembly and central government agencies to ensure that the relevant railway networks are included in state plans.

Governor Yoo also noted that since Sancheong is a latecomer to these projects, inclusion in state plans is not easy, but expressed a commitment to respond jointly with neighboring local governments.

◆ Responding to Population Decline... Planning to Expand Birth, Childcare, and Youth Policies

In response to population decline, Governor Yoo presented plans to strengthen a life-cycle support system linking birth, childcare, and education, alongside the basic income initiative.

To encourage young people to settle in the region, the county will simultaneously expand job opportunities and industrial bases. Plans include developing industrial complexes utilizing local conditions such as aerospace-related industries and ceramics, as well as advancing residential environment projects such as supplying city gas and promoting urban development and urban regeneration.

Governor Yoo explained that population policy would not just aim to increase the number of residents, but to create conditions that allow residents to continue living in the region.

◆ Advancing High Value-Added Agriculture and Expanding Stay-Oriented Tourism

In the industry and economy sector, the administration identified improving the production and distribution system of agriculture and fostering tourism and the sports industry as major tasks.

Plans include enhancing the competitiveness of agriculture by expanding distribution facilities and diversifying export markets, and expanding stay-type tourism content utilizing existing tourism resources like Jirisan and Donguibogam Village.

The county also intends to build a tourism belt connecting Jirisan area tourism resources, improve accessibility, and develop nighttime tourism content.

Governor Yoo proposed linking the region's historical and cultural assets, such as Nammyeong Seonbi culture and Ven. Seongcheol, with tourism and humanities content.

For sports, the plan is to connect various sports and lodging facilities to attract training camps and nationwide competitions, ensuring that athletes' and visitors’ accommodation and consumption contribute to the local economy.

◆ Welfare, Disaster Safety, and On-site Communication also Key Priorities

In the welfare sector, Governor Yoo announced plans to promote mobility support for residents with limited transportation, care services for the elderly and dementia patients, improved working conditions for caregivers, and expanded welfare services.

For disaster safety, the county will strengthen surveillance and warning systems to prepare for forest fires and heavy rain, and enhance training and disaster response systems as a precaution.

Governor Yoo pledged to continue on-site meetings and conversations with residents. The intent is to move beyond merely making policy decisions within administrative agencies and to reflect residents’ opinions in the processes of project development and budget allocation.

Governor Yoo Myunghyun stated, "If the past 100 days have been about setting the direction and establishing the foundation for county administration, the coming period will focus on concretizing and implementing planned projects." He also emphasized intentions to promote major initiatives by securing central and provincial government funds and consulting with the relevant ministries.

Going forward, Sancheong County will elaborate on project plans for each sector, including basic income and population policy, industrial and tourism expansion, welfare, and the improvement of transportation networks, and respond to central government tenders and efforts to be included in national plans.

The 100th day of Yoo Myunghyun’s tenure as Sancheong County Governor marks a starting point for transforming the county’s long-term strategic direction into specific projects to be implemented over the next four years.

With major issues such as the rural basic income initiative, inclusion in the national railroad network, and the expansion of industrial and tourism infrastructure on the agenda, the keys will be how successfully Sancheong County ensures inclusion in national plans, secures central and provincial government funding, and increases the feasibility of individual projects.

In particular, it will be critical to observe whether population decline policy moves beyond simple support and leads to tangible changes for residents, such as job creation, improved living conditions, and increased consumption within the region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.