Gimje City, Addressing Low Birthrate and Population Issues Together with Citizens

On the 10th, Population Day Commemoration Event Held at the Culture and Arts Center

The Culture and Arts Center is hosting an event to commemorate Population Day. Photo by Gimje City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jae-hee] Gimje City, Jeonbuk, held an event commemorating Population Day to contemplate and resolve low birthrate and population issues together with its citizens.

On the 10th, according to the city, the ‘2020 1st Gimje City Population Day Commemoration Event’ was held at the Culture and Arts Center with the participation of Mayor Park Jun-bae, National Assembly member Lee Won-taek, and about 80 members from 10 childbirth and childcare-related organizations.

This event was co-hosted by Gimje City and the Movement Headquarters for a Good World to Have Children, aiming to unite citizens' will to take action in recognizing the local community’s low birthrate problem and solving the population decline issue.

The main events included an award ceremony for multi-child merit recipients in commemoration of Population Day, a card session titled ‘Parenting Together, Valuable Happy Parenting,’ promotional booths for childbirth and marriage encouragement policies, child care experience booths, and an ocarina performance by children from Yeolmae Regional Children's Center.

As of the end of last year, Gimje City's population was 83,895, showing the steepest decline rate (-11.1%) nationwide over the past decade with a decrease of 10,451 people, making it a region at risk of extinction.

To overcome this, the city is concentrating all administrative efforts on improving the birthrate and attracting population inflow, showing meaningful results with the number of births in the first half of this year increasing by 40 compared to the same period last year, reaching 168.

Mayor Park Jun-bae said, “The local population decline problem cannot be overcome by administrative power alone and requires patience as it does not yield results in a short period.” He added, “I hope today’s event will serve as a cornerstone for making Gimje a good place to have and raise children and will be an opportunity to raise citizens’ understanding and interest in the population cliff and low birthrate issues.”