Park Yong-chul Ganghwa County Governor, "Creating a Leaping Ganghwa County! A Changing Ganghwa County!"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Park Yong-chul, Ganghwa County Governor, presented the 2025 county administration direction at the 299th Regular Meeting of Ganghwa County Council on the 2nd. Since beginning his first official duties as the 10th elected Ganghwa County Governor on October 17, Governor Park is receiving praise for rapidly stabilizing county administration, pursuing projects with momentum, and presenting new visions.

The county administration address presented by Governor Park on this day reflects the future blueprint of Ganghwa County.

■ County Residents' Daily Life as Priority! Measures to Address Loudspeaker Broadcast Noise Damage

Residents living in border areas of Ganghwa County have been complaining of accumulated stress from the bizarre noise broadcast day and night by North Korea since July.

In response, Governor Park issued an administrative order on November 1, designating all areas of Ganghwa County as danger zones to prohibit the distribution of anti-North Korea leaflets. On the 21st, he received approval from the prosecution for investigative authority under the Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act and plans to directly investigate violations of the administrative order to control anti-North Korea leaflet distribution from its source.

Through continuous visits to members of the National Assembly, the central government, and Incheon Metropolitan City, he has advocated for damage countermeasures and secured budget for soundproof window installation support projects in affected areas.

Governor Park stated, "Our county residents have been enduring unbearable suffering for over three months," and added, "I will do my best to ensure fundamental damage countermeasures are put in place with the safety and daily life of county residents as the top priority."

■ New Growth Wave of Incheon City: Making All-out Efforts for Ganghwa South Free Economic Zone Designation

Next year, critical national projects that will determine the future of Ganghwa County are to be decided: the designation of the Ganghwa South Free Economic Zone, the designation of an opportunity development special zone, and the commencement of the Ganghwa-Gyeyang Expressway.

In particular, if the 6 million pyeong area in southern Ganghwa is designated as a free economic zone, 3.7 trillion won in project costs will be invested by 2035 to create an advanced agriculture district, a history and culture tourism district, and a K-Culture cluster. A causeway connecting Ganghwa and Yeongjong will connect directly to Incheon Airport, the world's gateway, and link to national road networks through the airport expressway and Incheon Bridge.

Governor Park stated, "The designation of the Ganghwa South Free Economic Zone is a necessary condition and the most critical project for the future of our county, strengthening national competitiveness, and Incheon City's leap to becoming a Global TOP 10 city," and expressed his determination: "With the 70,000 residents of Ganghwa County, we will pool our strength and capabilities to secure the designation of the Ganghwa South Free Economic Zone."

■ 2025 Budget, Composed Based on County Residents' Daily Life and Welfare

Governor Park has prepared next year's budget at 669.7 billion won, an increase of 8.5 billion won from the previous year.

The 2025 budget plan reviewed all projects on a zero-base approach to respond to internal and external environmental uncertainties. Inefficient projects with low resident satisfaction were discontinued, and projects were filled with those prioritizing livelihood and welfare to be felt in daily life.

Considering the difficult economic situation of county residents, the social welfare and health sector budget was significantly increased by 16.5 billion won to 222.4 billion won compared to the previous year. Additionally, 6.4 billion won, a 20% increase, was allocated to education, the future generation, to strengthen the public nature of education.

The county's core agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors were allocated 112.7 billion won with an 11.8% increase, and the transportation sector for establishing a convenient transportation system was allocated 39 billion won with a 12% increase.

Governor Park stated, "Budget allocation was focused on welfare and essential projects for future preparedness. Despite difficult internal and external conditions, we will implement core projects to improve county residents' quality of life and strengthen urban competitiveness without interruption," expressing his determination.

■ Comprehensive Measures to Enhance Regional Population Vitality

Transportation support will be provided to pregnant women so they can comfortably visit hospitals, and senior citizens' free public transportation services will expand from buses to taxis, establishing a transportation welfare system at the national highest level. Additionally, par golf courses will be constructed by region to dramatically improve residents' leisure activities.

To create new income sources for rural areas, support will be provided for modernizing rural homestay facilities, and young farmers will be attracted through customized consulting from agricultural education to market development, bringing vitality to rural areas. Existing tourist attractions and cultural heritage will be transformed with bright nighttime Ganghwa development enabling day and night tourism, and will leap into a cultural tourism city people want to stay in through cultural performances suited to each season.

Governor Park stated, "I plan to establish a dedicated organization in January next year to actively discover customized population vitality policies," and added, "Through this, I will clearly understand the reality of regional decline and establish the foundation for a virtuous cycle mechanism in the local economy."

■ Future Growth Engine: Strengthening Policies Where Youth Dreams Become Reality

Governor Park's priority project is to develop a youth education and culture cluster where future generations can nurture their innate talents and dreams.

Through this, a learning environment that cultivates creative and critical thinking will be provided to develop youth into regional talents with innovative problem-solving abilities. Additionally, by cooperating with various local institutions and businesses, career exploration, internship, and startup support programs will be operated, providing opportunities for local businesses to cultivate future talent in advance and securing sustainable growth momentum.

The education development special zone designation project will be actively pursued, and the education expense support project, which is at the national highest level, will be strengthened in a customized manner. Local elementary students will be supported with educational buses for safe field trips, and middle and high school students will be provided expanded opportunities for overseas language training to be developed into global talent.

Furthermore, family-stay rural study abroad will be supported so families settling in the leaping youth-future city of Ganghwa County can live together and share benefits, and families desiring settlement will be supported to activate residential population.

Governor Park Yong-chul stated, "I will continue with strong challenges carrying the values of communication and harmony so that Ganghwa County's dreams can become reality," and said, "I and approximately 800 public officials will pool our capabilities with the county council and 70,000 county residents to surely create a leaping Ganghwa County! A changing Ganghwa County!"