FEATURE: Young local creators changing fate of small South Korean cities
Mungyeong, a small city of 71,000 in the central part of South Korea, welcomed about 80,000 visitors last year thanks to the efforts of a group of intrepid young entrepreneurs, attracting attention as a successful model for combating rural depopulation.
On a sunny spring day, in the retro-looking cafe, many visitors could be seen soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. Some were attentively viewing wall displays showing the history of how the cafe transformed from what was long ago a Korean sake brewery.
Photo taken in May 2021 shows a cafe transformed from a Korean sake brewery in Mungyeong, South Korea. (Kyodo)