Ganghwa County Signs MOU with Ongjin County, Chungwoon University, and Gachon University for "Incheon 168 Treasure Islands Competitiveness Enhancement"

[Suwon Ilbo=Choi Ki-ho Reporter] On the 10th, Ganghwa County signed a government-industry-academic MOU for "enhancing the competitiveness of Incheon's 168 treasure islands" with Ongjin County, Chungwoon University, and Gachon University at Chungwoon University's Incheon Campus.

Present at the signing ceremony were County Supervisor Park Yong-chul of Ganghwa County, County Supervisor Moon Kyung-bok of Ongjin County, President Jung Yun of Chungwoon University, and Senior Executive Vice President Kim Choong-sik of Gachon University.

The "Incheon Treasure Islands 168 Specialization Competitiveness Enhancement Support Project" is a government-academic cooperation initiative being promoted as part of the Incheon RISE (I-RISE) project, which is spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and Incheon City.

Local governments and universities will work together to address regional issues and promote regional development through mutual cooperation and pursuit of balanced growth. The project particularly aims to revitalize island tourism and enhance regional settlement competitiveness.

Through this MOU, Ganghwa County and Ongjin County, along with Chungwoon University and Gachon University, will establish a cooperative network and over the next 5 years will receive 5.6 billion won in Education Ministry budget support to promote projects for discovering and reestablishing the value of Incheon's treasure islands.

Main projects include △establishment and operation of degree programs for cultivating island specialists △establishment and operation of programs for strengthening the capacity of island residents △operation of branded tourism living labs to revitalize island tourism △operation of settlement-type living labs to improve the residential environment on islands △conducting research, consultation, and commissioned services related to collaborative project fields for discovering island value.

County Supervisor Park Yong-chul of Ganghwa County stated, "Ganghwa County is an Incheon treasure island with excellent historical and cultural resources and natural environment," and added, "Through this MOU, we will work together with universities to specialize in the regional values that Ganghwa possesses and strengthen competitiveness to achieve sustainable development."