'Population 500,000' Defense Line Collapsing... Pohang City Sends 'Address Ownership' SOS Even to City Buses

218 City Buses, 45 Village Buses Participate in 'Pohang Sarang Address Campaign'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, which is fighting to maintain its population of 500,000, is launching a large-scale "Pohang Love Address Registration Campaign" in cooperation with local city bus companies.

Pohang area bus companies Korea Wide Pohang Co., Ltd., Korea Wide Pohang Village Bus Co., Ltd., and Geuma Travel Co., Ltd. have been operating buses with campaign banners attached to 218 city buses and 45 village buses since the 20th. They are also actively encouraging employees who have addresses in other regions to move to Pohang.

Earlier, on the 15th, Pohang City held a win-win development agreement ceremony for the "Address Registration Movement" at the POSCO conference room, attended by representatives of seven POSCO affiliates. Since the beginning of the new year, Pohang City has been focusing all its efforts on establishing a defense line against population decline.

Shin Gang-su, head of Pohang City's Public Transportation Division, said, "If the population falls below 500,000, there are concerns about administrative service degradation due to administrative and financial losses such as organizational and administrative authority reduction and decreased local allocation tax," urging citizens' active interest and participation.

Meanwhile, Pohang City's population at the end of last year was counted at 502,916, a decrease of 4,109 from the previous year. At this rate, the collapse of the 500,000 population mark is expected to become a reality before the end of this year.