Uiryeong County in South Gyeongsang Province will begin operating five fund projects this year using hometown love donations. The county is channeling the donations directly into revitalizing the local economy, including a new project that refunds lodging fees to tourists for the first time.
Uiryeong County announced on the 20th that it will begin operating five fund projects this year, using hometown love donations to promote regional development and improve residents' welfare.
The county will pursue five projects: the UR Rich Pass payback support project; the "Choice of the Wealthy, Hometown Love Donation" promotional space creation project; a project to support the participation of the Uiryeong County youth athletes' table tennis team in international competitions; a branding project to develop Uiryeong as a forest education and experience city; and a housing repair cost support project for those returning to farming, rural areas, and their hometowns.
In particular, the "UR Rich Pass payback support project," launched for the first time this year, refunds 30% of lodging fees to users of public accommodation facilities in the form of mobile Uiryeong Love vouchers. The project is expected to have the combined effect of attracting tourists and boosting local consumption.
The county will create a permanent promotional space to publicize the value and achievements of the hometown love donation system. It will also pursue support for youth athletes' participation in international competitions, branding as a forest education and experience city, and the housing repair cost support project for those returning to farming, rural areas, and their hometowns.
The county has also worked to invigorate the hometown love donation system, including pursuing designated donations to help recover from last year's torrential rain damage. From 2023, the first year the system was implemented, through last year, a total of 5,581 donations amounting to about 910 million won were raised. This year, 506 donations totaling 96.78 million won have been raised so far, with donation participation continuing steadily.
"Hometown love donations are a valuable resource that improves the quality of life for county residents and brings vitality to the region," County Governor Oh Tae-wan said. "We will operate the fund more substantially so that donors' intentions can lead to real changes in the region."
