Hadong County receives presidential citation for regional growth project

Hadong County in Gyeongsangnam-do has been awarded a presidential citation at the ‘2026 Regional Balanced Growth Project Best Practice Awards Ceremony’ hosted by the Presidential Committee on Local Era. The award recognizes the county’s success in revitalizing the former Hadong Station area, which had become idle following the double-tracking of the Gyeongjeon Line.

Through the ‘Hadong Dream Station’ project, the county transformed the disused railway space into a multi-functional social infrastructure hub. The facility now provides essential services for youth settlement and community life, including startup cafes, exhibition halls, an integrated job center, a youth lounge, a shared childcare center, and a toy bank. By linking these spaces with nearby youth towns, the county has created a comprehensive environment covering housing, employment, childcare, and culture.

In addition to the award, Hadong County is focusing on strengthening its administrative capacity regarding ‘basic society’ policies. The county held training sessions for senior officials to better integrate income security and rural basic income concepts into local governance, aiming to establish a ‘Hadong-style basic society’ comprehensive plan by 2027.