When the Flowers Reappeared: Gapyeong Solved Its Tourist Boom and Labor Shortage Crisis

Amid Rapid Aging and 3.7 Million Annual Visitors, Shincheonji Volunteer Group Cheongpyeong Branch Partners with Local Villages to Build a Sustainable Model of Civic Care

💬 “The weeds had grown so tall that our flower garden was completely hidden. Now that the flowers are alive again, our whole village feels brighter.”

— Lee Gun-seon (70, female), a resident of Yumyeongsan Village in Gapyeong

Gapyeong County, famous for Cheongpyeong Lake and Mount Yumyeong, presents a striking contrast. According to local government statistics, over 3.69 million tourists flooded into Gapyeong’s picturesque sites in 2025 alone.

Yet behind this bustling tourism lies a quiet crisis. Designated as a population decline zone, Gapyeong's elderly population (aged 65 and over) has passed 34% of the total population.

In the hot summer months, wild weeds and kudzu vines spread rapidly along roadside flower beds and village entrances—the very first spots tourists see. With most local residents in their late 70s and 80s, keeping these community spaces clean became an impossible physical burden.


From One-Time Help to Official Partnership: The Yumyeongsan Village Story

In Gail-ri, a peaceful rural area near Mount Yumyeong, local residents planted a beautiful flower garden to welcome passing travelers. But as summer temperatures soared and rains poured down, aggressive weeds quickly swallowed the garden whole.

Overwhelmed, the Yumyeongsan Village Community reached out to the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Cheongpyeong Branch.

Instead of just doing a quick one-day cleanup, both sides wanted something deeper: sustainability. On July 2, 2026, the village and the volunteer group signed a formal MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for Continuous Environmental Stewardship.

  • Restoring the Flowers: On the day of the signing, 13 volunteers spent hours clearing thick weeds, revealing colorful blossoms that residents hadn't seen in weeks.

  • The Promise of Return: True to their promise, volunteers returned less than a month later on July 31. Eleven volunteers and residents spent three hours removing another 200 liters of overgrown weeds.

Overwhelmed with emotion, 78-year-old village resident Jeon Yeong-seok shared:

"The weeds grew back so fast in less than a month. Having people who remember us and return whenever we need help... I don't even know how to express this immense gratitude."

 

Honoring Heroes: Sustained Care for War Memorials

This "never-ending care" model extends beyond village flower beds to national sacred sites.

The Cheongpyeong Branch also holds an active MOU with the Vietnam War Veterans Association Gapyeong County Chapter. Volunteers regularly visit the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Monument in Sangsaek-ri, using weed trimmers to clear thick brush and vines.

Kim Cheong-jo, Head of the Gapyeong Vietnam War Veterans Association, noted:

"Every single time they visit, they leave the monument spotlessly clean. Their continuous support means the world to our aging veterans."

A Sustainable Model for Local Communities

Partner Entity / LocationCommunity ChallengeSustained Action & Outcome
Yumyeongsan Village (Seorak-myeon)Labor shortage due to aging population; overgrown entrance flower bed.Signed environmental MOU; regular bi-monthly weed removals (200L collected in July).
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial (Gapyeong-eup)Overgrown kudzu vines around national monument.Formal MOU signed; regular motorized weeding & monument maintenance.


A New Blueprint for Rural Cooperation

A genuine community alliance is not about a flashy, one-off photo session. It is about coming back when the weeds grow tall again.

By listening to local requests and locking hands through formal MOUs, the youth and volunteers of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Cheongpyeong Branch are proving that rural isolation can be conquered through faithful, repeated acts of care.


Source: https://vo.la/pWDJRlu

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