Yeongyang County holds rally to attract new correctional facility

Approximately 500 residents of Yeongyang County gathered at the Yeongyang Cultural and Sports Center to hold a rally supporting the recruitment of a new national correctional facility. The movement aims to combat regional extinction caused by continuous population decline and an aging demographic.

Yeongyang County officials highlighted the historical sacrifices made by the community, noting that in 1981, approximately 667,106 square meters of land were provided without compensation for the creation of the Cheongsong No. 1 Protective Custody Center, which forced residents of Yangjeong Village to relocate. Furthermore, the county has faced significant development restrictions due to environmental regulations applied to areas upstream of correctional facility water sources, which recently stalled large-scale private investment plans.

The Ministry of Justice is currently conducting a public contest to select sites for four new correctional facilities nationwide. Yeongyang County submitted its initial application on the 12th and plans to submit a formal proposal by the 4th of next month, followed by site inspections and location evaluations.