Yeongwol County, Sangdong-eup Celebrates First Birth in 1,837 Days as Village Fills with Joy

Hope Amid Population Decline
The Greatest Gift for a Former Mining Village
A Wave of Emotion as a Baby Is Born in Sangdong-eup

The entire village of Naedeok-ri in Sangdong-eup, Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, is abuzz with celebration as a baby has been born there for the first time in five years.

Kim Yujun, Sangdong-eup. Provided by Yeongwol County

On October 15, 2025, Kim Yujun was born to the family of Kim Minsu in Naedeok 3-ri, marking the first birth in 1,837 days since November 5, 2020. All the residents of Sangdong-eup shared in the joy and extended a warm welcome to the newborn.

Sangdong-eup plans to celebrate the birth by hanging a banner featuring the baby's photo at the Sangdong-eup office. The arrival of a new life has brought a sense of inspiration to the village, which has struggled with population decline as a former mining area, spreading smiles and renewed energy throughout the community.

Baek Junhee, head of Sangdong-eup, stated, "Amid the crisis of population extinction and the challenges faced by former mining regions, the birth of a new life is more precious than anything else. This is the most joyful event to come to Sangdong-eup in five years, filling the entire village with a festive atmosphere and laughter."

Yeongwol County hopes that this news will become a symbol of new hope for communities facing population decline, and plans to explore various ways to support the child and family together with the local community in the future.

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