Jangheung County Chief Sa Soon-moon met with local journalists to discuss key issues, including the expansion of National Route 23, as he outlined plans for a "1 trillion won budget era" ahead of the 100-day mark of his administration.
On October 1, the county held its first "journalist communication meeting" at the county hall, attended by over 100 local journalists and officials.
During the meeting, Sa provided updates on major projects initiated since the start of his term and engaged in a Q&A session regarding future county governance and local issues.
Key issues highlighted included the provision of livelihood support funds, the four-lane expansion of National Route 23 from Daedeok-eup Yeonji-ri to Jangheung-eup Sunji-ri, and disaster risk management projects in Jangpyeong Bongnim and Yongsan Pogok.
The National Route 23 expansion project aims to widen a 20.1-kilometer stretch to four lanes, with a total project cost of 369.4 billion won funded entirely by the national government. This project is the largest single SOC initiative since the establishment of Jangheung County.
Other significant initiatives discussed included the selection of Samgye Village and Unju Village for the Sunshine Income Village project, the revitalization of the Anyang Yulsan Literary Village, and a pilot operation of intercity buses between Jangheung and Gwangju Songjeong Station.
Sa outlined a vision for the county's future centered on the "1 trillion won budget era," which includes expanding external funding sources and attracting future industries such as marine and agricultural bio-industries, as well as energy and data centers.
In the agricultural and fishing sectors, plans were announced to expand basic income for rural residents and the Sunshine Income Village project, along with support for AI agricultural systems, aiming to enhance local income through tourism.
The issue of utilizing integrated support funds following the establishment of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City was also raised during the meeting.
Sa stated, "I proposed that a portion of the integrated support funds be distributed among the 27 cities, counties, and districts. The secured resources will be used for designating marine and agricultural bio-industrial special zones and building related infrastructure to create an industrial ecosystem." This proposal is currently in the planning stage.
Sa also presented policies aimed at retaining young residents, mentioning the youth future allowance and youth rental housing, emphasizing the need to create conditions for young people to settle in the area.
Sa Soon-moon remarked, "This meeting is not just to showcase the achievements of the first 100 days of my administration, but to reflect on the current position of Jangheung County and to consider the direction we will take moving forward. I will listen to the diverse voices of journalists and citizens and work towards creating a new Jangheung based on communication and cooperation."
Meanwhile, following the successful preliminary feasibility study for the National Route 23 four-lane expansion project, the county plans to proceed with subsequent steps, including basic and detailed design. This project is included among 54 out of 142 nationwide projects in the sixth five-year plan for national and local road construction.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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