Gwangju Dong-gu, Highest Total Fertility Rate "Happy Childcare City"

Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, ranked first in total fertility rate among the five autonomous districts. It is the only district showing an increasing trend, marking a new turning point in the development of the district government during the 8th local administration.

According to Dong-gu on the 22nd, the district's total fertility rate was 0.96 as of last year.

This is higher than the overall average for Gwangju (0.844) and Gwangsan-gu (0.933), which had recorded high fertility rates over the past four years.

This marks a rebound after four years since 2018, when the overall average for Gwangju was 0.972 and Dong-gu ranked the lowest among the five autonomous districts at 0.831.

This increasing trend is also linked to population inflow; the population of Dong-gu, which had fallen to about 94,000 in the past, has now increased to approximately 107,000.

The rise in young children and families in Dong-gu, which had been perceived as a "declining city" with a sharp population decrease due to long-term urban hollowing and a high proportion of elderly residents, is attributed not to short-term incentives but to various customized childcare policies aimed at long-term realization of a "child and parent-friendly childcare city."

In particular, public childcare facilities, which have been improving due to the successful redevelopment and urban development projects, including new apartment move-ins in Gyerim 2, 7, and 8 districts, Wolnam, Naenam, Seongyo districts, and now Yongsan district, are playing a significant role.

While there were only two national and public daycare centers in 2017, the number has expanded to 14, with 15 expected to be operational by the end of the year. Additionally, about 50 other daycare centers (private, home-based, social welfare corporations, etc.) are currently operating.

Furthermore, the two Dong-gu Childcare Support Centers (Support 1 and Sansu-dong), two Community Childcare Sharing Centers (Yongsan and Gyerim branches), and the toy library operated within the Pureun Village Community Center are receiving high praise from parents of preschool and elementary school children.

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