![Conceptual diagram of Regional Vitality Town. [Photo=Korea Land and Housing Corporation]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/06/10/20260610111241209475.png)
The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced on June 10 that it will provide free consulting services to local governments promoting Regional Vitality Town projects.
The Regional Vitality Town initiative aims to improve living conditions in rural areas by integrating housing, infrastructure, and services. Its goal is to support stable settlement in local regions and enhance community vitality.
This year, LH will offer consulting during the project planning and design phases to local governments interested in participating in the initiative. Eligible municipalities include those outside the metropolitan area and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
With the shift from a competitive application process to voluntary applications starting this year, local governments can now select projects that align with their specific conditions and allocate budgets accordingly. To facilitate this, LH has established a dedicated team to ensure timely consulting aligned with each municipality's project preparation timeline. LH has also collaborated with the Land and Housing Research Institute (LHRI) to enhance the expertise of its consulting services.
Consulting will occur during the conceptualization and planning stages of the Regional Vitality Town projects. LH will review municipal proposals focusing on project goals, plans, feasibility, demand, viability, governance, and effectiveness.
Local governments seeking consulting must submit an application and project plan to LH representatives. After a preliminary review, LH will provide consulting results either in person or online.
The Regional Vitality Town initiative is being promoted through inter-agency collaboration to improve living conditions and support settlement in rural areas. It aims to create living hubs that combine housing, infrastructure, and services, providing residential options and facilities comparable to those in metropolitan areas.
A key feature of this initiative is that regions can autonomously select inter-agency projects tailored to their unique characteristics. Through collaboration with various ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the initiative can integrate services related to care, healthcare, culture, and transportation.
Kang Oh-soon, head of LH's Regional Balance Headquarters, stated, "We plan to work closely with local governments to ensure that Regional Vitality Towns can become new growth hubs for their communities. In the future, LH will continue to strengthen its public role to help rural areas become vibrant and populated places."
The Regional Vitality Town initiative was introduced in 2023, with ten locations selected in 2024, including Yeongwol in Gangwon Province, Boeun in Chungbuk Province, and Geumsan in Chungnam Province. Last year, ten more locations were chosen, including Taebaek in Gangwon Province and Jeungpyeong in Chungbuk Province, further expanding the project's foundation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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