Did Customized Population Growth Policies Work? ... Significant Population Increase Effects in Sangju-si, Gyeongbuk

Number of Residents Increased by 283 Compared to End of Previous Year After Designation as Local Extinction City

Sangju City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yeo Jong-gu] Amid concerns over low birth rates due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, as of the end of February this year, the population of Sangju City reached 95,849, an increase of 283 compared to the end of the previous year.

Sangju City has implemented various population growth policies starting this year to overcome low birth rates in response to the ongoing trend of population decline.

After being designated as a population decline area by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety last year, a working committee was formed to address the rapid population decrease and the risk of local extinction, and various policies to increase the population have been prepared.

Since this year, the expansion of eligibility for moving-in support funds, support for new nationality acquisitions, incentives such as marriage encouragement funds, small weddings, and school admission support funds have been analyzed as factors leading to population growth.

Kang Young-seok, mayor of Sangju City, said, “This population increase amid the continuous population decline trend is bringing great vitality to the region,” and added, “We will establish a population vitality plan and prepare a local extinction response fund to focus on developing differentiated policies.”