Samcheok’s City Council on Tuesday held the fifth plenary session of its 269th extraordinary meeting, receiving 2026 major work-plan briefings from six departments, including the economy division, and debating local issues and development priorities.
Council members offered proposals on boosting the local economy, youth policy, tourism infrastructure, traditional-market revitalization and improvements to the education environment.
Council member Kim Hee Chang called for measures such as improving traditional-market facilities and expanding incentives for the Samcheok Love Card to upgrade the markets’ image and increase use. He also urged the city to maximize floor-to-ceiling height in any redevelopment of the current Samcheok Medical Center site to improve space efficiency, and to ensure a private developer is selected with the financial capacity and project experience to deliver the work.
Council member Kim Won Hak proposed turning the second floor and rooftop of the Central Market’s main building into resident-friendly spaces to draw visitors and increase market use. He also said the city should expand its “day to meet abandoned animals” into an event that includes both pets and abandoned animals, developing it into a community festival to improve awareness and promote adoption.
Council Chair Kwon Jeong Bok said that as teenagers increasingly use debit cards in daily life, the city should consider easing the minimum age requirement for issuing the Samcheok Love Card to encourage youth participation in economic activity.
Council member Lee Gwang Woo asked officials to visit Central Market to check operations during peak tourist hours, identify needed improvements and use the findings to craft steps to attract more weekday visitors.
Council member Jeong Yeon Cheol said the Nogok branch school revitalization project should go beyond reusing the closed school and pursue development linked to the broader area.
Council member Kim Jae Gu called for identifying more effective youth policies, including support for the cost of obtaining a driver’s license, to improve conditions for young people to settle in the city. On the relocation of the Samcheok Fire Station, he said access roads and pedestrian paths at the new site should be designed with safety and convenience in mind.
Council member Jeong Jeong Sun urged the city to link the detailed programs under its private-sector job-creation support initiative so they build a system for stable employment. She also called for a temporary-use plan to prevent hollowing out of the area during the redevelopment period for the Samcheok Medical Center site.
Council member Yang Hui Jeon asked the city to expand convenience measures at Central Market, including small carts, mobility assistance services and improved pedestrian routes. He also requested that planners consider adding a small public bathhouse as part of the Nogok branch school project aimed at easing inconvenience for local residents.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.