Excellent Response to Population Decline... Ulju-gun Receives Presidential Citation for Regional Development Contributions

Lifecycle-tailored Population Policies Lead to Increased Regional Influx

Ulsan Ulju-gun received the Presidential Citation in 2021 for its efforts in addressing population decline in regional development.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] Ulsan Ulju-gun announced on the 3rd that it received the Presidential Citation in the population decline response category of the 2021 Regional Development Meritorious Service Awards hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the last day of last year.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety awards outstanding local governments nationwide to promote and share policies responding to the population decline crisis in local governments.

After evaluating contributions to regional development, difficulty, creativity, ripple effect, and enhancement of regional vitality, Ulsan Ulju-gun and Chungbuk Okcheon-gun won the Presidential Citation.

Starting with the 7th elected term, the county established a population policy using two strategies: population maintenance and population inflow, analyzing ten stages of life problems threatening the future of youth.

They systematically responded to the population crisis by implementing policies covering the entire life cycle, including youth employment, future industries, marriage, housing, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, adolescence, education, career-interrupted women, and healthy old age.

Despite low birth rates, aging, and the highest-ever population outflow in 2021, the county recorded a net population inflow from July 2021 and achieved a total fertility rate of 1.16 in 2020, higher than the national average of 0.54.

By promoting diverse life-cycle integrated population policies in a mixed urban-rural city type, they achieved a 91.4% resident satisfaction rate and, for the first time in the region, planned loan interest and housing management fee support projects for newlyweds and small weddings, attracting newlywed couples to the area.

Recognized as a child-rearing friendly city, it is the first nationwide to support transportation costs for infertile couples, operate employment packages for career-interrupted women, scientific mentoring, English camps, talent development projects, and provide educational expenses and youth growth support funds.

They are also creating a job ecosystem for future generations by supporting youth social participation and employment through youth centers, a university scholarship program providing 1 million won annually to 760 students, youth startup support, developing the Ulju-type Green New Deal job model with labor and management, and establishing a job base centered on new industries.

For jobs and residential environments for future generations, the county attracted a specialized public hospital for industrial accidents, is promoting urban development projects including a research and development special zone, drone special zone, Ulju-type smart farm special zone, and constructing 45,000 public housing units across six districts.

In line with the aging era, various senior policies such as visiting health helpers, expanding senior jobs, providing bath and beauty vouchers, and dementia relief centers have been implemented to help seniors enjoy a joyful and healthy old age.

County Governor Lee Seon-ho said, “For local areas to revive from the concentration in the metropolitan area, it must become a city where youth can dream of the future and raise children well,” adding, “We will proactively respond to the local crisis by creating a city where all generations can live well through detailed population policies from birth to old age.”

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