The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 8th that a field roundtable was held in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, chaired by Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon.
Yeongwol's commercial district slumped as the coal industry declined and the population fell. But the area has been gaining vitality recently as more visitors have come to Yeongwol after the release of the film "The King's Warden."
Before the roundtable, the Vice Minister visited commercial sites in Yeongwol. The itinerary included "This Month in Yeongwol Stay," a lodging facility created by remodeling an 80-year-old house, and "Byeolaebyeol Bread 1984," which sells distinctive bakery products that blend local specialties with stories.
Afterward, at Yeongwol Dream Center, local small business owners gathered under the theme "Reviving local commercial districts with the value of the local!" Following an introduction to Yeongwol's commercial district and a briefing on the status of local commercial district projects, they exchanged views on ways to revitalize the district by leveraging the area's history and tourism resources. In a free discussion, they also discussed policies such as building a sustainable commercial district model and linking support programs across relevant ministries.
The Vice Minister said, "We will pursue policies so that the local commercial district can regain vitality based on the area's unique history, natural scenery, and stories."