[Feature] 100 Days Since Park Jongwon Took Office as Damyang Mayor: From Income and Welfare to the Future of Agriculture

79 Policy Pledges and 103 New Initiatives Discovered, 27 Existing Projects Reviewed for Phase-Out
Expanding Solar Income and Emergency Care... Promoting Smart Agriculture and High-Tech District 4
Expanding Settlement Foundations with Gwangju-Connected Transport and All-Season Tourism

The Damyang County government, headed by Park Jongwon, will mark its 100th day in office on October 8, 2026. In its early days, the administration has focused on income and welfare connected directly to residents' daily lives, while expanding its policy scope into agriculture, tourism, and transportation. It is also making efforts to secure national and special city funding needed to implement its key projects.

Since taking office, Mayor Park has visited various towns and villages to listen to residents and address local issues. The demands raised through resident dialogues and regional development forums have been reflected in pledges and policy initiatives. Last July, the pledges of the 9th local government term were organized into five categories comprising 79 projects and 83 detailed action plans.

County Governor Jongwon Park of Damyang explained the direction of county administration to the residents of Damyang-eup during the first "Dialogue with Citizens" of the 9th popular election term held at the Dambit Agriculture Center on the 9th of last month. Courtesy of Damyang County

Expanding New Projects, Reviewing Existing Ones

At the policy discovery briefing for 2027 held last month, 103 new policy initiatives were identified, while 27 existing projects were reviewed for possible phase-out. The administration has focused on adding new projects, but has also reassessed the necessity and effectiveness of current endeavors.

The Damyang Lake Ecological Exploration Trail project has also shifted direction. During the process of detailed ground investigation and implementation design, safety and additional cost issues were raised regarding the construction of the pedestrian bridge. As a result, the approach was changed to a circular trail that connects the existing walking path, the waterfront road, and nearby villages.

Efforts have also been made to secure national funding, broaden cooperation in the northern region, and enhance external partnerships. Mayor Park visited the National Assembly to request national funding for the establishment of the Dalbit Railroad Modern Missionary Complex Space Project and proposed prompt advancement of the Dalbit Railroad construction, which will connect Gwangju and Daegu.

'Aerial View of the Damyang Lake Ecological Exploration Trail Project'. Provided by Damyang County

At the Mutually Beneficial Development Council for the northern region of Jeonnam-Gwangju, discussions were held with Gwangsan-gu, Buk-gu, and Jangseong County on ways to cooperate in the development of the High-Tech District 4, the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries, and the areas of transportation, culture, and tourism. Leveraging its location adjacent to Gwangju, Damyang is working to expand the growth base in the northern region by adding industry and transportation to its established strengths in agriculture and tourism.

Mayor Park has set his sights on entering the “1 trillion won budget era” during his term. For projects difficult to pursue with local funds alone, he plans to secure the necessary resources through national and special city funding as well as competitive government project grants.

Basic Income and Solar Income... Focus on Everyday Policy

Policies connected to residents’ everyday lives have emphasized income and welfare. The rural basic income scheme is being prepared in a way that links consumption services tailored to each district with resident-led social solidarity economy organizations.

The “solar income” system, which distributes profits from community solar power plants among residents, is planned to be expanded to 100 villages by 2030. In August, Budong Village in Changpyeong was chosen through the first round of applications. On October 7, four more villages—Jukrim in Geumseong, Seongsan in Goseo, Daesosan in Daedeok, and Dujang in Yong-myeon—were selected during the second round.

In the area of care services, the “Eonneungosho” (Quick Service) program links a safety monitoring team across 12 towns and villages with relevant agencies to identify households in crisis and support home repairs. Integrated care services are provided to individuals based on their unique circumstances, including housework, meal provision, health management, and hospital accompaniment.

The “Emergency Care SOS” pilot project, scheduled for 2027, will support up to 1.5 million won per year in caregiving expenses for eligible residents who have difficulty moving due to illness or injury.

Introducing Technology to Agriculture, Strengthening Industrial Foundations

High-tech advancements are being brought into agriculture. The county is promoting two smart farming zones covering a total of 20 hectares, along with rental smart farms. Support for advanced greenhouses and general-purpose smart farms will also be expanded.

Research cooperation agreements have been signed with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Korea Institute of Science and Technology for the development of agricultural robots. Preparations are underway for research and field testing on automating strawberry planting, pest control, harvesting, and transportation.

At the joint declaration ceremony for the win-win development of the northern region of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City held on August 21, attendees are posing for a commemorative photo holding the agreement. From the left: Kim Hanjong, mayor of Jangseong County; Shin Sujeong, mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju; Park Byunggu, mayor of Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju; and Park Jongwon, mayor of Damyang County. Courtesy of Damyang County

In terms of industry, Damyang is working to link the second general industrial complex in Damyang with Gwangju’s high-tech industrial base, while promoting the development of High-Tech District 4 around the Daejeon-myeon area as a joint initiative for the growth of the northern region, integrating functions for business, industry, and residential living.

From Tourism to Transportation and Community... “Stay in Damyang”

Tourism policies have been structured to connect seasonal content. The “Dambit Four-Season Festa” will link bamboo in spring, night events and food in summer, culinary experiences in autumn, and lights and family activities in winter. The “Dambit Passport” will be introduced to bundle food, accommodation, and experience programs, aiming to increase both the duration of visitor stays and internal regional spending.

The Damyang Lake Ecological Exploration Trail will connect approximately 5 kilometers of previously separated walking paths and expand waterfront parks and amenities, ultimately establishing a total circular route of 41.2 kilometers, including the Yongmaru Trail.

Expanding the transportation network is also a priority. Discussions are underway with relevant agencies on extending city and rural bus lines between Gwangju and Damyang, establishing transfer hubs, and designating metropolitan express buses. Plans are also in place to begin preliminary planning and feasibility studies in 2027 for an extension of the urban rail line from High-Tech Gwangju to Damyang-eup.

Blueprint for 100 Days... Now, Implementation

During the first 100 days, Damyang County has developed a blueprint that places income and care at the center of day-to-day policy, connecting agriculture, industry, tourism, and transportation. The remaining challenge is turning these plans into tangible projects and securing the necessary resources.

Mayor Park stated, "While the past 100 days have been a period of setting the direction for Damyang in collaboration with our residents, from now on, we must deliver results for the people," adding, "I will lead the administration so that Damyang’s growth reaches each and every resident’s life."

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