Park Yong-chul, Ganghwa County Governor, Declares Front-on Breakthrough of Complex Crisis Including Regional Depopulation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] At the 308th Regular Session, 2nd Meeting of the Ganghwa County Council held on the 1st, Park Yong-chul, Ganghwa County Governor, expressed strong determination to frontally break through the complex crises facing the county through an administrative policy speech accompanying the submission of the 2026 main budget.

Governor Park stated, "Currently, Ganghwa County faces multiple difficulties including regional depopulation crisis, rural labor shortage, declining regional economic vitality, and border area regulations. Creating a sustainable local community is the most urgent task," and emphasized, "2026 will be a turning point that goes beyond these crises and initiates new future strategies in earnest."

In particular, he noted, "Next year's budget was compiled at 704.4 billion won, a 5.17% increase from this year's main budget, and through proactive efforts to secure national and city funds throughout this year, we have secured the largest-ever scale of resources," adding, "While enhancing fiscal efficiency through expenditure restructuring, we will leave no room for negligence in key projects for the future."

■ Presenting key to new growth engines...pursuing large-scale projects and institutional improvements in tandem

The county regards △Ganghwa Economic Free Zone designation △establishment of the National Ganghwa Goryeo Museum △preemptive response to Peace Economic Special Zone discussions △pursuit of Ganghwa's exemption from metropolitan regulations as core keys for securing new growth engines, and plans to concentrate efforts on establishing future growth foundations.

First, through Ganghwa Economic Free Zone designation, the plan is to pursue complex development combining advanced agriculture, historical culture, and K-culture, and foster it as a core growth hub driving national competitiveness with Incheon Metropolitan City.

As the basic planning project cost for the National Ganghwa Goryeo Museum has been approved by the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, the plan is to proceed smoothly with subsequent procedures to establish national-level cultural infrastructure representing Ganghwa's historical and cultural identity.

Additionally, in response to the government's Peace Economic Special Zone discussions and considering the reality that Ganghwa County faces both security environment regulations and metropolitan regulations, the county will begin in earnest pushing for "exemption from metropolitan regulations" to ease excessive restrictions.

■ All-out efforts to revitalize regional economy...customized comprehensive measures for small business owners, jobs, and fishing communities

The county plans to prepare and make all-out efforts on customized comprehensive measures for each sector to restore vitality to all areas of the local community. First, to revitalize the regional economy, the county will pursue comprehensive measures encompassing small business owners, jobs, and fishing and agricultural industries.

To activate local shopping areas, the county will pursue △designation of alleyway shopping streets △construction of outdoor parking lots at Poongmul Market, and will create jobs through △youth startup promotion and local creator development △small enterprise environment improvement projects while strengthening business support policies.

In the agriculture sector, the county will recover agricultural production foundations weakened by aging and labor shortages through △expansion of smart greenhouse cultivation △relocation of the Gyedong branch of the agricultural machinery bank △introduction of foreign seasonal workers △operation of rental-type smart farms.

In the fishing sector, the county will improve working and residential conditions through △fishery village revitalization projects △functional improvements to major fishing ports △pursuit of extended port entry and exit times during peak fishing seasons, with plans to enhance competitiveness of the fisheries industry.

■ Transition from day-trip tourism to stay-type tourism...strengthening night, experiential, and marine-focused content

In the tourism sector, to transform the existing tourism structure focused on "day visits" into "stay-type tourism where visitors reside," the county will begin in earnest pursuing tourism strategy centered on night, experiential, and marine themes.

The county plans to pursue △nighttime illumination of Manisan Mountain △national heritage media art △"living a week in Ganghwa" program to transform into a tourism city where visitors can stay even at night.

Additionally, through △strengthening functions of Seokmo Island Mineral Spa △introduction of 4D screening system at Ganghwa Astronomical Science Museum, the county will upgrade content at existing tourism facilities to encourage repeat visits, and through △establishment of marine healing center △creation of stay spaces linked to Waepo-ri Ship Park, plans to establish marine tourism hubs combining marine healing, history, and experiences.

■ Comprehensive measures to create "comfortable, desirable Ganghwa"

The county envisions implementing "comfortable, desirable Ganghwa" through improvement of residential environment and expansion of living SOC infrastructure.

The county will pursue △road network improvements around Gyeyang~Ganghwa Expressway in line with its groundbreaking △major road improvements including Almi-gol intersection bypass, and will enhance public transportation accessibility through △M-bus introduction △increased service on routes 800 and 801 △creation of transfer parking facilities.

For residential environment improvement, the county will continuously pursue △expansion of public sewerage △expansion of city gas supply △distribution of LPG pipeline networks △fusion support for new and renewable energy △improvement of aging facilities in multi-family housing, while strengthening living safety networks through △establishment of CCTV integrated control center △expansion of public evacuation facilities.

Governor Park Yong-chul stated, "While Ganghwa simultaneously faces multiple crises, the foundation for change is being steadily prepared throughout the process," and emphasized, "Together with the Ganghwa County Council and the 70,000 residents, the approximately 800 public officials including myself will surely create a Ganghwa where each and every resident is happy."