Yeonggwang-gun Ranks First Among Jeonnam Counties in Number of Births in the First Half of the Year

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeon Seong] Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Junsung) announced on the 17th that the number of births in the first half of this year was 283, ranking first among the counties in Jeollanam-do.

This was 59 more than the second-place Muan-gun (224) and 74 more than Haenam-gun (209), which ranked first nationwide in total fertility rate in 2018.

According to Statistics Korea, despite the continuous net outflow of population from Jeollanam-do for six consecutive months due to the impact of COVID-19, and a sharp decline in both births and marriages, the county minimized natural decrease (births minus deaths, ▲66) to second place among 22 cities and counties, based on the high number of births.

As of last month, the county's population was 53,475, a decrease of 377 compared to the previous year. However, among the population changes by city and county in Jeollanam-do in the first half of this year, only two local governments, Suncheon-si and Muan-gun, showed population growth, and among the remaining 20 cities and counties, the county ranked sixth lowest in population decline.

At the beginning of this year, the county launched a campaign to maintain a population of 54,000 and has actively promoted various customized policies on population, marriage, childbirth, youth, and jobs that residents can feel.

Starting this year, marriage incentives of 5 million won, newborn childcare expenses of 5 million won for the first child, 12 million won for the second child, 30 million won for the third to fifth children, and up to 35 million won have been significantly increased and actively supported as part of childbirth promotion policies.

To overcome population issues, the county has promoted the ‘My Hometown, My Workplace Address Campaign’ targeting local institutions, social organizations, companies, and residents, signed agreements with local companies to overcome population decline, operated visiting customized population classes, and provided visiting address change services.

In the second half of the year, the county plans to focus all efforts on increasing the population by actively implementing customized population and childbirth policies.

Furthermore, to provide an opportunity for multi-child families who find family trips difficult to recognize the importance of family, the county is promoting the ‘Happy Trip for Multi-child Families,’ which was applied for and selected last month.

Programs such as prepared pregnancy and prenatal education methods, communication techniques to consider the partner and resolve conflicts will be operated to help couples understand each other and lead a healthy married life through the ‘Newlywed (Prospective) Couple Class’ planned for implementation.

Additionally, to alleviate housing cost burdens and foster a marriage and childbirth-friendly atmosphere, the housing purchase loan interest support project, which started last year, has been expanded this year to include rental deposit loan interest support, with recruitment and support available year-round.

Moreover, the county is simultaneously promoting various youth support policies, including the nation’s first youth development fund of 8 billion won (with a goal of 10 billion won), the Youth Dream Up ‘321’ Project, youth employment activity allowance support, operation of the Youth Hope Stepping Stone Account, and housing cost support for employed youth.

A county official said, “We will continue to implement various policies to overcome population issues in the second half of the year,” and added, “We ask for active participation and cooperation from related institutions, social organizations, companies, and all residents in the county’s campaign to maintain a population of 54,000.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.