Gapyeong-gun Holds Celebration for This Year's 200th Newborn

Population Growth and Creating a Child-Friendly Environment
Reversal of Declining Birth Rates

Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Governor Seo Tae-won) held a celebration on the 20th at the Jojong-myeon Administrative Welfare Center to congratulate Kim Ju-ha, the 200th newborn of the year. Kim Ju-ha was born on October 30th as the 200th child in Gapyeong-gun this year, and considering the newborn's condition, the celebration was held on this day.

Gapyeong-gun held an event on the 20th at Jojong-myeon Administrative Welfare Center to celebrate Kim Juha, the 200th baby born this year. Provided by Gapyeong-gun

The number of births in Gapyeong-gun recorded around 600 in the early 2000s but dropped to the 400s with 472 in 2002 and has continuously decreased until last year. Recently, the numbers were 261 in 2020, 257 in 2021, 217 in 2022, and fell below 200 to 195 in 2023. However, thanks to proactive birth policies this year, the 200th newborn was born on October 30th, and as of the end of November, the number of births reached 222, showing a noticeable rebound.

Gapyeong-gun is designated by the government as a population extinction risk area, with the elderly population aged 65 and over accounting for 31%. Accordingly, during the 8th local government term, increasing the population and the living population has been set as a major task, and various policies are being promoted.

Gapyeong-gun is reducing childcare burdens through measures such as △ the second highest childbirth congratulatory allowance payment among 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province △ support for the personal burden of childcare helpers △ congratulatory wood gifts for childbirth households △ provision of birth congratulatory items. Additionally, efforts are being made to create a child-friendly environment by providing elementary school enrollment support funds and expanding children's play facilities.

Governor Seo Tae-won said, “I extend congratulations to Kim Ju-ha, the 200th newborn this year, as well as all newborns in Gapyeong-gun,” and added, “In 2025, we will continue to create an environment where families are healthy and children grow up happily through the Gapyeong-gun Family Center and the Comprehensive Childcare Support Center.”

Meanwhile, childbirth congratulatory allowances and support items for childbirth households can be received through integrated childbirth service applications upon registering pregnant women or reporting births. More detailed information about Gapyeong-gun’s life-cycle tailored policies can be found in the ‘Population Policy’ section on the Gapyeong-gun Office website.

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