Jeongeup-si, Opening Ceremony of Research Service for Population Policy Establishment

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk recognized the issues of population decline such as low birthrate, aging, and population outflow, and announced on the 31st that it held a kickoff briefing for the ‘Population Policy Establishment Research Service’ on the 30th to overcome this population crisis.

The city initiated the research service to respond to the rapidly progressing population decline as the most fundamental administrative unit securing the future.

In particular, in response to the government’s 4th Basic Plan for Low Birthrate and Aging Society (2021?2025), the plan aims to analyze Jeongeup’s population status and currently implemented policy outcomes, propose population policy directions suitable for the region, and discover customized policy tasks.

The briefing was held with the attendance of Mayor Yoo Jinseop, heads of departments related to population policy, relevant officials, and the Jeonbuk Research Institute.

As of the end of last year, South Korea’s resident registration population decreased for the first time in history, and the risk index of local extinction due to low birthrate and aging is worsening.

Also, Jeonbuk Province ranks third highest in extinction risk among all cities and provinces nationwide, and all city and county areas except Jeonju, Gunsan, and Iksan have already entered extinction risk zones.

In particular, Jeongeup’s population decreased from 122,000 in 2010 to 108,000 in 2020, a decline of about 14,000 over the past decade, reaching a serious level of population decline.

Accordingly, this research service aims to face the city’s reality and discover population policy projects that combine Jeongeup’s regional, environmental, and social factors, with the goal of slowing the speed of population decline and creating a desirable living area.

The city plans to announce the final research results in July after a mid-term report, starting with this research service.

Lee Yonggwan, Director of Growth Strategy, said, “We will do our best to discover key policies by sector to reduce population outflow from Jeongeup and stabilize local settlement, especially to find ways for the youth, the future growth engine of Jeongeup, to move into and settle in the region.”

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