Gumi City Sees 4.4% Rise in Births, Marking Second Consecutive Year of Population Rebound

Number of Marriages Up 7%
2025 City Administration Satisfaction Survey: 8 out of 10 Satisfied with Welfare and Care Services
Visible Results from Population Policies Covering Youth Settlement, Marriage, Childbirth, and Childcare

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province has shown signs of a population rebound, with increases in both the number of births and marriages, despite the nationwide trend of declining birth rates.

From January to October of this year, the number of newborns reached 1,722, a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year (1,649).

This marks the second consecutive year of growth, following last year’s turnaround that ended a decade-long decline.

During the same period, the number of marriages rose by 7%, totaling 1,534 cases. In a city administration and policy satisfaction survey conducted this year, the expansion of welfare and care facilities received an approval rating of 83.2%.

* Survey agency: Realmeter Co., Ltd., 'Gumi City Administration and Policy Satisfaction Survey'

Gumi Plus Neonatal Intensive Care Unit / Provided by Gumi City Hall

First, the city has strengthened its medical system centered on mothers and children.

The Gumi Plus Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which opened in March last year, is equipped with advanced medical equipment and staffed by three specialists and one nurse. As of October this year, 40% of the 374 total patients came from outside the region, establishing the center as the only specialized neonatal hub in western North Gyeongsang Province.

The first-ever Dalbit Children’s Hospital in North Gyeongsang Province, which opened in September this year with three locations, has also gained significant popularity, serving an average of 128 pediatric patients per day.

In addition, the city has established a comprehensive pediatric medical infrastructure, including four public late-night pharmacies (to be completed by 2025), extended hours for obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics (by 2025), and the 365 Pediatric and Adolescent Care Center (opened in 2023).

In the area of childcare, the city has introduced a series of policies aiming to provide “24-hour care within a 10-minute distance.” In September, Gumi opened the nation’s first “Zero Age Specialized Shared Childcare Center” exclusively for infants aged 60 days to 12 months. In just three months of operation, the facility has already served 932 infants and their families, gaining widespread popularity.

The city operates a robust care network, including the largest number of “Together Care Centers” in the country (20 locations, including 24-hour centers), the first regionally operated “Childcare Service” in North Gyeongsang Province (2 locations), and seven “365 Care Daycare Centers.” The “Sick Child Care Center” is also scheduled to open an additional location in the Gangdong area in January next year (2026), further ensuring stable childcare support.

First-ever Shared Childcare Center Interior Photo / Provided by Gumi City Hall

Alongside expanding medical and care infrastructure, the city is also implementing marriage policies to support stable family formation.

Since this year, a total of 682 households have benefited from the “Marriage Congratulations Household Goods Support Program” for couples in their 20s (to be implemented until August 2025) and the “Marriage Incentive Program” for workers aged 30 to 45 (to be implemented until April 2025).

Meanwhile, Gumi City has identified youth settlement as the key to population growth and is significantly strengthening support for youth housing and employment or entrepreneurship.

In particular, the city opened “Gumi Young Square” in November, which will serve as a central hub for youth employment, entrepreneurship, and networking, solidifying its role as a core space for youth policy.

Additionally, the “Gumi City Youth Monthly Rent Support Program” (up to KRW 100,000 per month for 24 months) and the “Gumi Job Preparation Free Pass Program” (up to KRW 250,000) closed early due to high demand. The nation’s first “Youth Worker Local Settlement Happy One-Room Program” and the “Youth Local Settlement Internship Support Program” for local students have also proven to be highly popular.

Mayor Kim Jangho of Gumi City stated, “Marriage, childbirth, and childcare are not separate policies but are organically connected as a single flow. Gumi City is pursuing integrated policies that are mutually connected,” adding, “We will create a city where young people can settle down, get married, have children, and raise them happily.”

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