Sinan-gun Selected for Highest A Grade in Local Extinction Response Fund

Secured a Total of 32.9 Billion KRW Including 21 Billion KRW in National Funding Over 2 Years

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, has been selected for the highest grade, A, in the investment plan evaluation of the Local Extinction Response Fund for Basic Local Governments, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Local Finance Guarantee Fund, and will receive 21 billion KRW (9 billion KRW in 2022, 12 billion KRW in 2023) from the Local Extinction Response Fund.

The Local Extinction Response Fund is a resource directly provided by the government to local governments to resolve the issue of local extinction. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety supports local governments with a budget of 1 trillion KRW annually for the next 10 years starting this year (75 billion KRW this year) based on the evaluation results of investment plans established by local governments in population decline areas.

Sinan-gun was selected as an A grade, the top 5% among 89 population decline areas, securing a total of 32.9 billion KRW including local funds, with 9 billion KRW from the 2022 fund and 12 billion KRW from the 2023 fund.

This Local Extinction Response Fund evaluation involved basic local governments establishing investment plans, which were objectively evaluated by an evaluation team appointed by the Korea Local Finance Guarantee Fund based on criteria such as project excellence, plan connectivity, and appropriateness of the implementation system.

Sinan-gun submitted investment project plans for nine projects, including remodeling the closed Anjwa-myeon Jarabun School and Aphae-eup Ssangyong Elementary School to establish the education-specialized 'Robinson Crusoe University,' and the 'Maker Space' project to create local maker and digital social innovation startup spaces for middle-aged and older adults.

Considering that Sinan-gun ranks 4th in aging rate in Jeollanam-do and 8th in the high-risk group for population extinction index, it is recognized as a population extinction risk area. To implement various population increase policies, it has formed and started operating the Population Extinction Response Promotion Team (1 team with 4 units).

Despite the overall increase in mortality rates, low birth rates, and natural decrease due to outmigration in 14 towns and townships last year, the population increase cases of 41 in Imjado, 32 in Jaeun-do, 39 in Anjwa-do, and 10 in Jara-do, totaling 122 people, are very hopeful.

One of the main reasons for the population increase seems to be the ordinance enacted for the first time nationwide in the 7th local government term to return renewable energy development profits to residents, and since the second quarter of last year, renewable energy dividends (also known as 'Renewable Energy Lifetime Pension') have been paid to residents registered in Sinan-gun.

Park Woo-ryang, Mayor of Sinan-gun, expressed his thoughts on being selected for the A grade, saying, "Being selected for the highest grade in this investment plan evaluation will greatly help the poor financial conditions, and we will solidly promote the original investment plan to create the 1004 Islands where young people want to return and live."

Meanwhile, in connection with the 'Special Act on Support for Population Decline Areas' scheduled to be implemented from next year, an early start is planned for establishing the five-year 'Basic Plan for Responding to Population Decline Areas.'