Newborns in Gwangju Increase 7.7 Percent, Outpacing National Average

Over 6,000 Newborns from January to November Last Year
Number of Marriages Also Increased

The number of newborns in Gwangju Metropolitan City has increased.

According to Gwangju City on the 4th, an analysis of the "Population Trends for November 2025" released by the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) showed that the number of newborns in the Gwangju area from January to November was 6,017, an increase of 430 (7.7%) from the same period a year earlier (5,587), surpassing the national average growth rate of 6.2%.

The number of marriages also increased. During the same period, the number of marriages in the Gwangju area was 5,421, up 315 cases (6.2%) from a year earlier. Gwangju City explained that this upward trend in marriages is leading to an increase in births.

Kang Gijeong, mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, posed for a commemorative photo after presenting birth-congratulation mutual-growth cards as part of a performance at the UNICEF Child-Friendly City higher-level certification proclamation ceremony held in the city hall’s main conference room on the afternoon of July 31 last year. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City stated that this increase in the number of newborns and marriages is the result of the city’s life-cycle-based birth policies and improvements in actual residential conditions. The city has been consistently implementing policies that cover marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, childrearing, and work-life balance.

To ease income reduction in the early stages of childrearing and alleviate the burden of childcare costs, Gwangju City has been gradually expanding the "Aikium All In (ALL IN) Gwangju Four Major Care" program. Along with cash-based support such as Birth Family Congratulatory Sangsaeng Cards, First Meeting Vouchers, Parent Benefits, Child Allowances, and Multiple Birth Congratulatory Payments, the city is simultaneously providing medical support through services such as a Public Nighttime Children’s Hospital, support for infertile couples, and assistance for freezing and preserving germ cells expected to result in permanent infertility.

In addition, the city is promoting various care-support measures such as Grandchildren Family Care, Childcare Support Services, Hospitalized Child Care, and the Samsameo Neighbor Care program, as well as work-life balance support measures such as Housework Support Services for Pregnant Women and Single-Parent Families, and support for workers hired as replacement staff for those on parental leave.

This year, to respond to low birth rates, Gwangju City will fully implement the "Gwangju Aikium 2.0" policy, investing a total of 290.9 billion won in 52 projects. The city will establish and operate an integrated care system that not only supports the period before childbirth but also encompasses childrearing after birth.

At the same time, the city is supplementing its care-support system by expanding eligibility for Childcare Support Services, increasing subsidies for childcare fees and meal costs, and broadening additional support under the Nuri Curriculum program.

Gwangju City added that, as discussions on administrative integration between Gwangju and South Jeolla Province progress, it also expects fiscal and institutional expansion of policies supporting housing, jobs, and childrearing.

Choi Kyunghwa, Director of the Women and Family Bureau, said, "The period until 2032 is the golden time for reversing the low birth rate trend," adding, "We will continue to pursue policies so that the upward trend in marriages and births can be sustained."

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