"A Vietnamese Village Built with 300 Billion Won in Taxpayer Money?"... 30,000 Sign Petition to Scrap Bonghwa's 'K-Vietnam Valley'

Development of the "K-Vietnam Valley" Special Zone in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province

347.6 billion won over five years... Half from county funds

"We must assess whether it is sufficiently necessary and economically viable"

A petition to the National Assembly has called for the cancellation of a project to develop the “K-Vietnam Valley” in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, which is set to cost 347.6 billion won over five years.

Bird's-eye view of the planned K-Vietnam Valley special zone in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province. Bonghwa County

According to the National Assembly’s public petition board on October 29, a petition calling for the cancellation of the designation of the “Bonghwa K-Vietnam Valley Special Zone” and related projects was posted on October 1. The petitioner said, “This is not opposition to foreigners or Vietnamese culture itself,” but argued, “It must be rigorously assessed whether large-scale development and settlement support targeting a specific country are truly a fundamental solution to the problem of regional depopulation, and whether the project is sufficiently necessary and economically viable to justify such a massive public investment.”

Turning 800 Years of Ties into a Tourism Asset... Funding and Demand Under Scrutiny

An on-site meeting for the K-Vietnam Valley project in 2024. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

The “K-Vietnam Valley Special Zone” project seeks to turn into a tourism asset the history of descendants of Lee Yong-sang, a prince of Vietnam’s Ly dynasty who crossed over to the Korean Peninsula during the Goryeo Dynasty and settled in Bonghwa. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups newly designated the area as a special zone at the 60th Regional Specialized Development Zone Committee meeting on August 6. Bonghwa County plans to establish a hub for cultural exchanges between Korea and Vietnam, attract more tourists and temporary residents, and respond to regional depopulation. At the time, Noh Yongseok, First Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, “We will support the implementation of projects so that regional specialized development zones can become genuine growth hubs for their communities, while also strengthening performance-based operations and management.”

Bonghwa County will invest 105.1 billion won in national funds, 27.7 billion won in provincial funds, 170.1 billion won in county funds, and 44.7 billion won in private investment by 2030. The structure calls for the county to cover about half of the total cost from its own budget. The central project, the “K-Vietnam Valley Development Project,” is reported to be worth 200 billion won.

National Assembly public petition calling for the cancellation of the Bonghwa K-Vietnam Valley Special Zone project. Official website.

The petitioner said, “A thorough assessment is needed to determine whether spending 170.1 billion won in local funds in a municipality facing population decline and difficult fiscal conditions aligns with residents’ needs and budgetary priorities.” The petitioner added, “Before proceeding, the county should consider using the money to directly improve the lives of Bonghwa residents, including by creating jobs and housing for local young people, supporting childbirth and child-rearing, fostering local industries, and improving medical and transportation infrastructure.”

Regulatory exemptions applicable to foreign workers’ stays and housing supply were also cited as points of contention. The petitioner argued that the project must establish policy justification and secure public consent, as it involves not only the construction of tourist facilities but also stays and settlement. The petitioner also said, “There has been insufficient objective assessment of how many domestic and international tourists will visit the facilities related to Vietnam in Bonghwa, and whether they can generate sustained operating revenue.”

Citing the failed “Korea-China Cultural Town” project in Gangwon Province, the petitioner said, “This project, which will involve more than 300 billion won in public funds, must undergo even more rigorous scrutiny.” The petitioner also raised the possibility that future facility maintenance and management costs could become a burden on local finances.

The petition will remain open through October 31 and had received around 30,000 signatures as of the morning of October 29. A National Assembly public petition is subject to a review of eligibility once it receives 100 signatures. If it receives 50,000 signatures within 30 days of being posted, it is referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly.

“A Waste of Taxpayer Money” vs. “The Reality of Empty Rural Areas”... Public Opinion Divided

A post titled “A Vietnamese Village Built with 300 Billion Won in Korean Taxpayer Money” has spread across online communities. Comments included negative reactions to the funding, such as “I wonder if it’s worth spending taxpayer money to maintain it” and “They should improve transportation infrastructure instead.” Others argued that the reality of declining-population areas should be taken into account, saying, “Without something like this, the place will be practically empty,” and “The proportion of foreigners in rural areas has grown more than people realize.”

In August, Bonghwa County Governor Choi Giyeong said, “It is important to build on the longstanding ties between Bonghwa and Vietnam through sustained exchanges and cooperation,” adding, “We will work to expand exchanges across various fields so that Bonghwa can grow into a hub for cultural exchanges between Korea and Vietnam.”

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