The 'Hwachun-style Sunlight Pension,' a key policy of the 9th elected term of Hwachun County in Gangwon Province, was introduced at the Global Winter Cities Conference. Hwachun County plans to share solar power generation profits with residents and shift its tourism industry, centered around the Sancheoneo Festival, to increase stays and consumption.
According to Hwachun County, Mayor Kim Se-hoon presented the Sunlight Pension concept on September 8 during the first session of the 21st Global Winter Cities Conference in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Mayor Kim stated, "The Sancheoneo Festival, which began in 2003 in the frigid land of Hwachun, is a representative tourism model that turned a crisis into an opportunity. Now, we are preparing for a greater challenge in the face of another crisis: population decline."
The Hwachun-style Sunlight Pension involves establishing solar power facilities on the surface of Paro Lake and on vacant military land, with the profits generated being returned to the residents. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions during the operation of the Sancheoneo Festival and provide a stable income base for residents.
Mayor Kim explained, "We will build solar power facilities on the surface of Paro Lake and on vacant military land to share profits with residents. We are developing a strategy to gradually expand our power generation capacity, starting with floating solar panels." Following the presentation, representatives from participating cities, including Rovaniemi, expressed interest in the project's feasibility and expected benefits. On the same day, Mayor Kim was appointed as the Vice Chair for Asia and Oceania at the Global Winter Cities Conference.
During this visit, Hwachun County also outlined policies for the qualitative growth of its tourism industry. On September 7, Mayor Kim and Hwachun County Council Chairman Jo Woong-hee visited the headquarters of LAPPSET, a company that produces wooden play facilities, to examine production facilities and products, assessing potential wooden installations for Hwachun's tourist sites and public facilities.
On September 8, the delegation visited 'Visit Rovaniemi,' the dedicated tourism marketing organization in Rovaniemi, to explore tourism marketing and experiential program operations utilizing Santa Claus content.
Visit Rovaniemi is a public-private partnership tourism organization, with the city of Rovaniemi holding a 51% stake and local tourism businesses holding 49%. It supports not only tourism promotion and information provision but also the sale of tourism products from local businesses.
Hwachun County plans to reference Visit Rovaniemi's public-private cooperation model and integrated marketing system as it considers establishing a tourism foundation. Mayor Kim invited the Visit Rovaniemi delegation to the Hwachun Sancheoneo Festival in January next year and proposed joint tourism content utilizing Santa Claus.
The policy direction of Hwachun County focuses on creating a structure that retains the profits generated from energy and tourism within the region. The Sunlight Pension has the potential to become a long-term source of income for residents that is not heavily influenced by the number of tourists or economic fluctuations. Utilizing Paro Lake and military vacant land can also reduce the burden of securing new large-scale sites.
However, before actual implementation, securing development sites, verifying project feasibility, connecting to the power grid, addressing environmental and aesthetic issues, and consulting with relevant agencies must be completed. The criteria for profit distribution and methods for resident participation should also be clearly established from the project's outset.
In the tourism sector, shifting the focus of policies from visitor numbers to increasing stay duration and local spending is crucial. Connecting the Sancheoneo Festival and Santa Claus content to accommodations, food, experiences, and local products, while ensuring tourism businesses directly participate in product development and operations, will enhance the economic ripple effect.
Ultimately, the success of the Hwachun-style Sunlight Pension and the tourism industry hinges on execution rather than mere declarations. If the economic viability of solar power generation is secured and a system is established for tourism profits to benefit residents and local businesses, these two policies could establish a regional income model in Hwachun that responds to population decline.
Mayor Kim Se-hoon stated, "We will focus on qualitative growth in Hwachun's tourism industry to enhance its contribution to the local economy."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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