Suncheon City Rises as One of the Three Major Cities in Honam, Connecting Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonju City

Surpassing Iksan, Jeonbuk by Late November
Realizing Long-term Population Policies Covering All Generations
Launching Sustainable Suncheon-type Eco-economic Project
Population Policy City Marketing and Building Citizen Consensus

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The population of Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) has surpassed Iksan City in Jeonbuk Province, rising to become the third largest city in the Honam region, following Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonju City.

As of the end of last month, Suncheon's population was 282,618, which is 36 more than Iksan City's population of 282,582.

At the end of last year, Iksan City's population was 287,771, which was 8,173 more than Suncheon's 279,598.

However, in just 11 months, Suncheon's population increased by 3,020 while Iksan's decreased by 5,189, resulting in this reversal.

Suncheon City has shown a continuous population growth trend, whereas Iksan City and nearby Yeosu City have shown a steady decline. Considering this trend, Suncheon's status as the third largest city in Honam is expected to continue.

Suncheon has focused its policies on improving citizens' quality of life through mid- to long-term residential conditions, based on urban policies centered on an ecological city, safety, education, transportation, and healing.

In a satisfaction survey conducted in the first half of this year targeting newcomers from outside the city, 90.3% responded with average or higher satisfaction, demonstrating that excellent residential conditions through urban infrastructure development such as housing, transportation, safety, and culture are driving population inflow.

Additionally, through the Suncheon-type ecological economy project, the city is continuing its path as a leading third largest city in Honam in the post-COVID-19 era.

▶ Suncheon, a city where everyone can live well with population policies covering all generations

Suncheon City is promoting customized population policies tailored to each life cycle stage, covering all generations to create a livable city.

To support housing stability and settlement for the younger generation, the city provides interest subsidies on home purchase loans for newlyweds and multi-child families, free childcare at private and home daycare centers, continuous expansion of public daycare centers, creation of miracle playgrounds, eco-friendly free school meals, and free uniforms for middle and high school freshmen, fostering a child-friendly environment.

Notably, since July, Jeonnam's first expansion of the multi-child family criteria from three children to two children has reduced the economic burden of childcare for citizens. Through the local company multi-child dream nurturing project, local companies and multi-child families form partnerships, establishing a culture of community child-rearing and jointly working to overcome low birth rates.

Suncheon is also minimizing youth outflow by operating various job programs for the younger generation, such as establishing the largest startup incubation center in Honam, running a global webtoon center, and training professional animators. It fosters youth communities through the youth center "Dreaming Youth" and supports entrepreneurship through the startup support center "Changup Yeondang," creating a job and startup ecosystem.

For the recently emerging middle-aged generation, the city supports life redesign education, social contribution activities, and community through the Life Second Act Support Center. It also promotes specialized projects for seniors, such as the Suncheon-type senior job project and community-integrated care services, leading efforts to create conditions for a comfortable and happy old age.

Furthermore, the city assists smooth settlement of incoming households by providing moving-in subsidies for used goods purchases, incentives for university and graduate students relocating, analyzing needs through satisfaction surveys of new residents, and publishing settlement casebooks.

▶ Operation of the sustainable Suncheon-type ecological economy project

Suncheon, an ecological city protected by 280,000 citizens, created Korea's first national garden. The entire city is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and Suncheon Bay is on the verge of being designated a World Natural Heritage site, making it a city ahead of its time in ecological conservation values.

Suncheon is enhancing its urban competitiveness by leveraging its excellent ecological environment and educational conditions through the 3E project, which revitalizes the local economy.

With the upcoming 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo, the marine ecological tourism belt, and the creation of the Miracle Forest on Yonggyesan Mountain, the city is establishing an economic foundation to lead the Korean New Deal by creating jobs and revitalizing the local economy through ecology.

Additionally, Suncheon is accelerating the Suncheon-type education economy by building Suncheon Bay Job World, hosting the 4th Industrial Revolution Expo, and establishing a biosphere reserve management center, enabling youth to plan their futures and nurture their dreams while leading ecological value realization with citizens.

Healing villages linked to tourist sites and citizen gardens scattered throughout the city where people can enjoy nature are also reasons why residents settle in Suncheon.

Proactively responding to various climate changes and building a healthy and safe urban environment for citizens can also be seen as reasons for population growth.

Since starting the Ten Million Trees Planting Project last year, trees planted throughout the city were distributed to citizens as companion trees in November this year, and expert education has been continuously supported so citizens can manage trees themselves. This participatory approach helps reduce global warming and fine dust, creating a more livable healing city.

Moreover, the city plans to expand infrastructure to prepare for heat waves, such as creating fine dust blocking forests in the Yulchon, Haeryong, and Seomyeon industrial complexes and the Shindae district to prevent pollution from industrial complexes spreading to residential areas, as well as clean roads and smart shade shelters.

Alongside this, citizens will directly draft and propose ordinances to realize a sustainable ecological city.

Furthermore, Suncheon is transforming into a city where people want to settle by systematizing water management through Jeonnam's first ISO22000 (Food Safety Management System) certification in tap water, maintenance of aging sewage pipelines, and installation of four excellent detention facilities, creating a safe living environment.

▶ Improving citizen awareness and forming consensus through life cycle-based population policy city marketing

Along with mid- to long-term residential condition improvements, Suncheon has increased citizens' understanding of population policies by promoting city marketing that publicizes life cycle-based benefits available to Suncheon citizens through various media.

The benefits related to childbirth and parenting, children, youth, and middle-aged groups promoted by each department are organized and publicized through bus information systems, outdoor electronic billboards, and social media so citizens can easily see them. The city is also conducting population education to foster positive values regarding marriage, childbirth, and family life.

Despite difficulties in face-to-face education due to COVID-19, about 2,000 people, including local leaders in towns and townships, daycare centers, elementary students, and youth, participated in population education through video lectures.

Additionally, through the "Have an Address in Suncheon" campaign, the city encourages actual residents without registration to register their residence, fostering a proper address culture. Unique population policies at the town and township level, such as birth congratulation cards, providing companion plants to newcomers, and population protection campaigns, have helped form a consensus with citizens on population issues.

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon stated, "The city's status is not determined solely by population numbers," and expressed his ambition, saying, "To become a truly livable city, Suncheon will continue policies to improve quality of life across ecology, medical care, welfare, culture, and education." He summarized by saying, "We will enhance quality of life by dressing ecology with culture and adding the melody of art."

Meanwhile, local political circles anticipate that "if this population growth trend continues, Suncheon City might be able to have two separate electoral districts in the 22nd general election."

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