Imsil-gun Records 'No.1 Total Fertility Rate in Jeonbuk' in 2021

Simmin, Imsil County Governor

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 3rd that its total fertility rate in 2021 ranked 2nd nationwide and 1st in Jeonbuk.

According to the provisional results of the 2021 birth and death statistics recently released by Statistics Korea, Imsil-gun's total fertility rate was 1.81, ranking second among cities, counties, and districts nationwide, and the highest in the province.

This figure is more than twice the national average of 0.81 and the provincial average of 0.85.

This high total fertility rate is interpreted as the result of the combined effects of various policies actively promoted during the 6th and 7th local government terms, including childbirth encouragement policies, education policies, return-to-farming and rural migration policies, multicultural policies, special military base policies, and job creation policies.

The county supports childbirth encouragement funds of 3 million KRW for the first child, 5 million KRW for the second and third children, and 8 million KRW for the fourth child and beyond.

In addition, various policies have been implemented to overcome the low birthrate problem, such as providing 500,000 KRW for postpartum care costs to all families with newborns, giving childbirth congratulatory gifts, supporting maternal and newborn health care services, and expanding diaper purchase cost support up to 24 months after birth.

Furthermore, more than 20 different projects are underway, including transportation expenses for pregnant women, medical expenses for high-risk pregnant women, support for infertility treatment costs, and postpartum health care expenses.

Moreover, the win-win cooperation project with the 35th Division military unit in the region is also contributing to maintaining the local birthrate.

The county is establishing itself as a model of regional innovation by promoting differentiated stay-type policies such as support for transportation vehicles for soldiers on leave, Imsil Love gift certificates, relocation incentives for military officers, hometown scholarships for children of military officers, and free use of public facilities.

County Governor Shim Min said, "Although the natural decrease of the population is intensifying nationwide, we will actively respond through the Imsil-type population policy," and added, "We will take the lead in discovering pioneering policies and utilizing the local extinction response fund, which will be supported for 10 years starting this year, to make Imsil a good place to have and raise children."

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik sd2481@asiae.co.kr