Unoccupied and Derelict Rural Houses Are Regenerated in Three Local Areas to Revitalize Declining Rural Areas

Sejong, 2 April 2025 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has designated Gangjin-gun of Jeollanam-do, Cheongdo-gun of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Namhae-gun of Gyeongsangnam-do as places in which to carry out the project for regeneration of unoccupied and derelict rural houses.

 * "Gun" is South Korea’s administrative unit corresponding to a county and "do" corresponds to a province.

Under the project to revitalize declining rural areas, unoccupied and derelict rural houses will be regenerated into spaces providing diverse functions such as residence, “workation” (balancing work and vacation), experience of local culture, and starting a business. A total of KRW 2.1 billion will be invested in the designated places for the project over the next three years.

The government of Gangjin-gun plans to regenerate unoccupied and derelict rural houses into lodging facilities, facilities for experiencing agricultural rural areas, spaces for starting a business, and spaces for experiencing rural cultures. 

The government of Cheongdo-gun plans to remodel and repurpose unoccupied and derelict rural houses into hotels and spaces for experiencing rural cultures, and plans to create a programme for nurturing docents showing people around the village.  

The government of Namhae-gun plans to turn unoccupied and derelict rural houses into spaces for “workation” and communal spaces for local residents. The local government also plans to create online and offline platforms for providing information on and managing such rural houses and operate a programme under which managers provide information on and promote such houses and the village.