Discussing Local Issues Including Basic Income for Rural Areas and Stay-Type Tourism in Chilgap Lake 

Chungcheongnam-do is joining forces to resolve key local issues—such as a basic income system for rural areas and expanding tourism infrastructure around Chilgap Lake—to support Cheongyang’s development and improve the daily lives of its residents.

On the 7th, Governor Park Soo-hyun visited Cheongyang-gun to hold the “Chungnam Tong(通)-Haeng” program, listening to the voices of local residents, hearing about regional concerns, and sharing the policy directions for the 9th popular election administration alongside visions for Cheongyang's future.

The day’s program proceeded sequentially with a meeting with Cheongyang County Mayor Kim Hong-yeol, a press briefing, a visit to the county council, and a town hall conversation with residents.

Continuing its proactive outreach, the provincial government operated an on-site “Governor’s Direct Civil Petition Office” to consult and register everyday inconveniences and suggestions from residents. These petitions will be systematically managed through every step of the resolution process.

During the dialogue with Cheongyang residents, Governor Park shared progress updates on suggestions gathered during a town hall meeting held in June when he was governor-elect, and answered questions and suggestions from the public.

The provincial government is also continuing joint responses with Cheongyang-gun and other relevant local governments to include the Chungcheong Inland Railway in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan.

The Chungcheong Inland Railway is a 146.7 km project connecting Taean, Seosan Airport, the Chungnam Administrative City (Naepo New Town), Cheongyang, and Sejong, all the way to Daejeon.

Efforts will also continue to promote the rural basic income project to broaden rural income foundations and inject vitality into the local economy.

Cheongyang was selected as the first region in the province to pilot the rural basic income project, distributing 150,000 KRW per month to each resident starting this February.

The provincial government plans to analyze the pilot project's performance while petitioning the government to raise the national expenditure sharing rate and expand eligible usage venues, as well as pursuing a phased expansion of the rural basic income to other regions within the province.

The Chilgap Lake area will be fostered into a tourist destination where visitors can stay and enjoy themselves.

Together with Cheongyang-gun, the province is reviewing plans to attract accommodation facilities linked with Chilgap Lake's natural scenery and existing tourism infrastructure. Once the project takes concrete shape, the province plans to support necessary administrative procedures, such as tourist site designations.

Efforts are also being combined to resolve pending issues related to local industries and living infrastructure.

For the Cheongyang General Industrial Complex, the province will support relevant administrative procedures if business plan adjustments, such as changing eligible attraction industries, are made.

The headquarters of the Chungnam Provincial Institute of Forest Resources, which is relocating to Cheongyang, will advance its basic planning and follow-up procedures step-by-step.

Additionally, the province will accelerate the expansion of emergency medical facilities through the extension of the Cheongyang County Medical Center and the construction of the Chungnam Provincial Park Golf Course, thereby improving medical and leisure conditions for residents.

Regarding the Jicheon Dam project, the province will request local development measures from the government based on resident opinions, while discussing provincial-level resident support and regional revitalization measures.

Governor Park stated, "We will carefully listen to the voices of our residents and strive to lead Cheongyang’s transformation and a better quality of life for its people through the expansion of transportation, income, and tourism infrastructure."

The Chungnam Tong-Haeng resident dialogue was broadcast live through the provincial official YouTube channel, "Chungnam TV," allowing residents who could not attend in person to share their opinions through real-time chat.

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