Kim Han-jong, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council, "Special Act on Local Extinction Crisis Areas Must Be Amended Promptly"

Emphasis on Special Roundtable Discussion on Population Policies Addressing Local Extinction

Kim Han-jong, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council, emphasized the enactment of a special law to support regions at risk of local extinction at the special roundtable of "Monthly Local Government." Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Council

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Kim Han-jong, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council, emphasized on the 22nd at a special roundtable hosted by Korea's first QR-specialized magazine, "Monthly Local Government," that "the issue of local extinction due to population decline should be recognized as a national-level agenda, and a 'Special Act on Support for Local Extinction Crisis Areas' must be enacted."

The special roundtable, themed "Solutions to Local Population Issues," was attended by Chairman Kim Han-jong, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, and Seoul National University Professor Cho Young-tae, who discussed the directions and roles of population policies for local and central governments.

Governor Kim Young-rok stated, "We are operating the 'Population and Youth Policy Office,' a control tower for population policy, to respond to the seriousness of population decline and related issues," adding, "To solve population problems, comprehensive national support rather than competition among local governments is necessary."

Professor Cho Young-tae, Director of the Population Policy Research Center at Seoul National University, said, "The fundamental cause of the severe ultra-low birthrate phenomenon, which has dropped to around 300,000, is the concentration of young population and resources in the metropolitan area," and added, "The next ten years, during which the baby boom generation is still active, is our last remaining opportunity, and population policy must be approached beyond party lines with the future of the nation in mind."

Chairman Kim Han-jong stated, "To revitalize local extinction crisis areas and achieve balanced national development, the enactment of the 'Special Act on Support for Local Extinction Crisis Areas' is absolutely necessary," and revealed, "The provincial council submitted proposals urging the enactment of the special act to the government and the National Assembly twice, in January and May of last year."

He continued, "As the chairman of the National Association of Chairpersons of City and Provincial Councils, I plan to build public consensus on the necessity of the special act and strengthen cooperation with non-metropolitan regional governments and local councils."

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