"Attracting Local Youth": Jeonnam Provincial Council's Policy Forum on Regional Extinction Draws Strong Participation

The Jeonnam Provincial Council has highlighted the need to enact a special law for youth-special zones to address the outflow of young people and the crisis of regional extinction.

On October 24, the council held the "Policy Forum on Responding to Regional Extinction and Population Decline" at the Yi Sun-sin Auditorium of the Suncheon Eastern Regional Headquarters, seeking legislative and policy solutions to the outflow of young people and regional imbalance issues.

The Jeonnam Provincial Council held the "Policy Forum on Regional Extinction and Population Decline Response" at the Yi Sun-sin Auditorium of the Suncheon Eastern Regional Headquarters. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Council

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More than 300 people attended the forum, including members of the Jeonnam Provincial Council's Task Force on Regional Extinction and Population Decline, research group members, officials from Jeonnam Province and the Provincial Office of Education, city and county government employees, Suncheon National University students, and representatives from related organizations. The forum began with a presentation on Jeonnam Province's flagship integrated support project tailored to pregnancy and childbirth.

Kim Jinpyo, former Speaker of the National Assembly, delivered a special lecture titled "Solving Population Issues Starting from Jeonnam," stressing that institutional alternatives such as the designation of youth-special zones must be urgently promoted at the national level.

Kim stated, "The rapid concentration of young people in the Seoul metropolitan area is a national crisis that can no longer be postponed," and added, "The nation must take responsibility for creating a foundation where young people can settle in local areas, as this is the only way for the entire Republic of Korea to move toward a sustainable future."

Kim Taegyun, Chairperson of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, said, "This forum was organized to confront the urgent reality of regional extinction and to build consensus with residents on the need for a special law for youth-special zones."

He emphasized, "Establishing an institutional foundation for young people to pursue their dreams and settle in the region is a survival strategy for the nation," and continued, "We will work closely with the government, the National Assembly, and especially the members of the Public Administration and Security Committee, by gathering the various opinions presented today." He added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that these efforts lead to substantial institutional improvements and legislative outcomes."

Participants expressed strong agreement on the necessity of policy initiatives to overcome the population crisis and reaffirmed their determination to work together in finding solutions for a sustainable future for local communities.

The Jeonnam Provincial Council plans to actively reflect the policy ideas and field opinions proposed at the forum in future legislative activities and policy agendas, taking the lead in overcoming the population crisis and achieving balanced regional development.

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