미 엔비디아 칩 구매막던 중국 “신형 AI칩 구매 허용 검토 중”

Over the past year, the series exploring special communities across the country highlighted various neighborhoods that have transformed themselves in the face of decline. From revitalizing alleyways and villages in Gwangju's Yangil-dong to social-economic organizations and urban regeneration projects in Gyeonggi and Seoul, the report met people from all walks of life committed to creating something unique for their communities.

Regardless of age or background, these individuals shared common traits that contributed to turning neighborhoods into something special.

Interviewees, Park Chee-hoon (47), the CEO of Local Business, and Kim Tae-hyun (45), director of the Transeconomic Integration Support Center in South Jeolla, recounted their experiences over the past few years observing small towns develop into businesses, social enterprises, and new services. Both had witnessed hundreds of successes and failures across the nation.

Park, a representative from 경북 지역과 소셜비즈, shared their belief that innovation historically emerges from the margins due to scarcity. They argued that AI, while transformative, doesn't pose the same threat to extinction as the threat of total societal collapse. This leaves high-value areas for future growth, Park suggested.

Meanwhile, Kim emphasized that external migration of young people isn't the solution to regional decline. Instead, retaining existing residents could be crucial. They argued that people staying in place might change their approach, leading to innovative solutions that attract younger generations.

Both emphasized the importance of key factors for successful community transformation: people, ideas, funding, and support networks. They provided examples of successful ventures like a social enterprise in Gyeongsangbuk-do, which started by addressing local needs, and a plant-based food business in Jeollanam-do that expanded from a local initiative to European markets. Conversely, they highlighted failures where planning, communication, and community engagement were lacking.

The duo agreed that the foundation of success or failure lay in how communities were supported without undue interference. Park stressed the need for local authorities to transfer authority and accountability to the private sector, while Kim warned of potential pitfalls in government planning, such as inadequate provision of living facilities and unworkable funding structures. They both emphasized the importance of a balanced approach that combined market principles with community welfare.

The report concluded by suggesting that the resurgence of declining communities might be driven more by the changing attitudes of city dwellers than by any policy or financial support. If people start prioritizing meaningful experiences over material consumption, they could pave the way for once-declining towns to regain their special status.