In an effort to address significant regional disparities across the country, the Republic of Korea has prioritized "Building Livable Local Communities" as a national goal. Since 2022, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has allocated 1 trillion won over 10 years to support local governments in combating population decline and local extinction crises through initiatives like the Local Extinction Response Fund.

One standout success story funded by this initiative is Gangjin County in Jeollanam-do. Situated in a remote area where primary industry workers constitute 42% of its 32,722 residents, Gangjin County has capitalized on the growing trend of urbanites seeking relaxation closer to nature.

Since 2015, Gangjin County has operated the "FUSO (Feeling-up, Stress-off)" rural stay program, which expanded significantly with specialized funding from the Local Extinction Response Fund in 2022. The program's name "FUSO" combines local dialect meaning "to relieve stress" with the concept of emotional upliftment.

Participants in the FUSO program stay on farms, engaging in activities such as visiting cultural and tourist sites or experiencing farm life directly. Over the past 8 years, the program has diversified to include themes such as Student FUSO, General Public FUSO, Week-long Stay FUSO, and Public Servant FUSO. As of January 2024, the FUSO program has welcomed 58,328 participants, contributing significantly to a total farm income of 5.28 billion won and revitalizing the local economy.

Gangjin County's FUSO program stands as a model of how local initiatives, supported by national funds, can effectively combat population decline and stimulate local economic growth through innovative rural experience programs.

· Source : Gangjin City(County)
· Contact Info : Kim Jeong Min / kjmini@korea.kr