2036 Future Development Strategy: How Jeonbuk’s Imsil County Plans to Thrive with 38 Trillion Won Investment

Imsil County in North Jeolla Province, South Korea, unveiled a 3.8 trillion KRW (approximately $2.85 billion) blueprint for its \”2036 Future Development Strategy\” and has begun implementing it in earnest.

On April 17, 2026, the county said it held the second interim briefing for the study and reviewed the vision and key projects that will guide development over the next decade.

The study covers the entire county and is designed to set medium- and long-term policy directions across government functions, including agriculture and rural affairs and food, industry and the economy, culture and sports, tourism, regional development and SOC, and welfare.

Through the study, Imsil is crafting a new strategy that reflects changing domestic and international conditions, the launch of the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province, and policy shifts that have followed the amended \”Future Vision 2026\” plan.

The report incorporates the results of a survey of 600 residents and stakeholders and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) expert analysis.

The survey found residents prioritized \”growth, balance and cooperation\” and want the county to develop as a leisure-tourism and agri-food center focused on citizen well-being. Respondents ranked agriculture and rural affairs and the industrial/economic sector as top policy priorities, while experts identified the industrial/economic sector as an area needing policy reinforcement.

The briefing also set Imsil’s mid- to long-term targets: by 2036 the county aims to sustain a population of 25,000, reach a local GDP of 1.2 trillion KRW (approximately $900 million), and raise fiscal self-reliance to 20%.

Core policy directions proposed include improving housing and living conditions, developing local service hubs, creating an industry ecosystem that brings together people, businesses and resources, and expanding infrastructure to support everyday life and activity.

In agriculture and rural development, the plan emphasizes digital transformation and smart farming, cultivating the next generation, and fostering sustainable rural vitality.

In the food, industrial and economic sectors, priorities include upgrading the Imsil cheese industry, developing functional dairy-processing and green-bio industries, nurturing pet-related and pet food businesses, and revitalizing agro-industrial complexes to secure new engines of regional growth.

For tourism, the strategy proposes creating a high-end, stay-oriented destination by linking Okjeong Lake, the Cheese Theme Park and the Osu Uigyeon tourist site.

In regional development, SOC and welfare, the plan highlights projects with high public impact: expanding town-level living infrastructure, improving transportation access, and establishing an Imsil-style integrated care delivery system.

The interim report includes eight sectors, 59 projects and a total budget of 3.794 trillion KRW (approximately $2.85 billion).

County Mayor Shim Min urged stakeholders to collaborate on a systematic, strategic plan to sustain Imsil’s development and growth. He called on the community to address structural challenges—such as population decline and aging—and to work together to produce practical plans that promote regional development and improve residents’ livelihoods.