Four counties in northern Gyeongbuk are competing in the Ministry of Justice’s contest to select a site for a correctional facility, treating the usually avoided installation as a possible lifeline for their shrinking communities. As they work to recover from wildfires, the counties are also facing population decline, rapid aging, reduced local government grants and a weak tax base, making the facility an avenue for attracting residents, jobs and spending.
Their combined population is only around 120,000, underscoring the survival pressure behind the bid.