Sancheong-gun Expects Record High Increase in Returning Farmers and New Residents This Year

Scenic View of Gyeonghogang River in Sancheong-eup [Image Source=Sancheong-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is expected to record the highest number of return-to-farming and return-to-village population in the past four years this year, as new housing occupancy gains momentum along with active population policies.

According to the county on the 2nd, the local return-to-farming and return-to-village population has steadily increased every year, with 274 households (379 people) in 2018, 321 households (511 people) in 2019, and 401 households (707 people) in 2020 moving in.

As of the end of September this year, the number is already at 460 households (663 people), similar to last year's return-to-farming and return-to-village population. Sancheong-gun is implementing active population policies to prevent the ongoing population decline in recent years.

Recently, two ordinances?the 'Sancheong-gun Population Policy Ordinance' and the 'Sancheong-gun Childbirth Encouragement Grant and Newborn Health Insurance Premium Support Ordinance'?have been announced for legislative notice.

The Population Policy Ordinance expands the criteria for multi-child families from three or more children to two or more children, easing the economic burden on those households. It also establishes a basis for supporting housing loan interest for young people to help facilitate their settlement.

A Sancheong-gun official stated, “Although the nationwide population decline continues, in the case of Sancheong-gun, the population decline trend is noticeably slowing due to the continuous increase in return-to-farming and return-to-village cases. In particular, the population returning to farming and villages in their 50s and 60s, who often move with their families, as well as those in their 20s and 30s, an age group where family members increase, are steadily growing, so the possibility of improving the population decline phenomenon is increasing.”

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