Daegu Dalseong-gun Records 1,700 Newborns Last Year... Ranked 1st for 9 Consecutive Years Among 82 Rural Counties Nationwide

Eight Industrial Complexes and Many Newlywed Couples

Daegu Dalseong-gun has been confirmed to have ranked first in the number of births in county-level areas nationwide for nine consecutive years from 2016 to 2024. This is a rare piece of good news contrasting with the domestic situation struggling with low birth rates.

According to the '2024 Population Trend Survey Birth and Death Statistics (Provisional)' announced by Statistics Korea on the 26th of last month, the number of births in Dalseong-gun last year was 1,700, ranking first among 82 county-level local governments nationwide.

Children at Maegok Daycare Center in Dasa-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu City are playing a fruit harvesting game during special activity time.

During the same period, the total fertility rate (the average number of children a woman of childbearing age is expected to have in her lifetime) was also 1.05, significantly higher than the national average of 0.75. This statistic is analyzed to be the result of Dalseong-gun’s excellent residential conditions, proactive childbirth and childcare support policies, and educational projects.

Dalseong-gun is well equipped with transportation networks such as urban rail lines 1 and 2, and many newlywed couples reside there due to relatively affordable housing prices compared to downtown areas. It is also evaluated to have abundant jobs as various companies and institutions are located around eight industrial complexes, including the Daegu National Industrial Complex.

In the future, with the creation of the 2nd National Industrial Complex and the opening of the Daegu Industrial Line (scheduled to begin construction in April) connecting Seodaegu Station to Dalseong 2nd Industrial Complex, accessibility between Daegu downtown and Yuga, Hyeonpung, and Guji will improve, and abundant jobs will be created, expanding population inflow.

Additionally, Dalseong-gun is creating a childbirth-friendly environment through customized welfare policies covering all life stages. First, for families preparing for pregnancy, it operates pre-pregnancy tests (preliminary checkups for newlyweds) and the Mom-Pyeonhan Pregnancy One-Stop Service (a service that provides guidance and integrated application for various pregnancy support services after pregnancy). Once pregnancy is confirmed, benefits such as pregnant women registration health management, prenatal tests, pregnant women health management classes, and healing prenatal education rooms are available.

They also pay close attention to the needs during child-rearing. Examples include Daegu’s first full free support for special activity fees at daycare centers, 24/7 daycare center operation by region, and the nation’s first dedicated English teacher placement project at daycare centers.

Moreover, various educational projects are being operated to prevent population outflow caused by children born in Dalseong-gun moving away due to private education reasons. Examples include the establishment of the Dalseong Education Foundation, expanded scholarship support, and overseas English camps in the Philippines and the United States.

The criteria for multi-child families have also been expanded. Previously, only families with three or more children benefited from the ‘Multi-child Family Camping Caravan Usage Fee Support Project’ and ‘Giving Beautiful Names (Free Naming),’ but now families with two or more children can also use these services.

Choi Jae-hoon, mayor of Daegu Dalseong-gun, said, “In a situation where the decline in birth rates is emerging as a nationwide issue, it is a meaningful achievement that Dalseong-gun continuously records a large number of births.” He added, “We will continue to create an environment where newlyweds and young people can settle stably and complete a ‘city good for raising children.’”

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