About Us

The disappearance of a region is not merely the vanishing of a place—it is the fading of someone’s hometown, their memories, and their way of life. We were moved by a deep sense of sorrow and loss. Despite the government's large-scale funding, including the Local Extinction Response Fund, and the tireless efforts of community activists, the problem of regional decline seemed to grow ever more severe. At times, we felt helpless.

So we began to ask: "What is the root of the problem?" "Where should we start again?"

A phrase we once heard from a public official lingered in our minds: “When Seoul does it, everyone follows.” It revealed the reality that Seoul-centric perspectives and models were being applied uniformly across all regions. Even policies hailed as local success stories outside Seoul often ended up being replicated elsewhere with only their names changed. But each region has its own color—its own stories and ways of life. Still, for too long, we’ve chased the idea of “Seoul-style success,” forgetting the unique value of the local.

We knew it was time for a change.

We chose to step into the field—to experience and discover each region’s character firsthand and support them in ways that preserve and uplift their unique essence. From this shared vision, JIRO was born. More than just a response to regional decline, JIRO strives to create a world where every hometown is cherished, and every person can live with dignity. We offer tailored consulting for local revitalization, walking a small but steady path so that no one’s hometown disappears.