Jeong Cheol, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member, "Prevent Population Decline by Utilizing Agricultural and Fishing Village Study Abroad Programs"

Jeong Cheol, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea·Jangseong 1), held a "Meeting to Revitalize Population Inflow Using Agricultural, Mountain, and Fishing Village Study Programs" at the Jangseong Wellness Happiness Village. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Assembly

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jeong Cheol, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea·Jangseong 1), announced on the 3rd that he held a "Meeting to Revitalize Population Inflow Using Rural Study Abroad" at the Jangseong Wellness Happiness Village.

The meeting was organized to explore solutions to regional extinction through rural study abroad, attended by local officials including Assembly members Jeong Cheol, Shin Min-ho, Cha Young-su, Park Won-jong, and Deputy Governor Kim Myung-shin.

The participants shared successful cases of operating rural study abroad villages, which were first promoted nationwide in Jeonnam, and discussed ways to revitalize them together.

Assembly member Jeong Cheol said, "Future population policies must prevent population outflow through low birthrate prevention and youth job creation," adding, "Policies should be established to attract external populations, such as support for multicultural families through marriage and childbirth, support for returning to farming and rural areas in preparation for second residences for retired generations and youth returning to farming, and support for rural study abroad as a means of cyclical population inflow."

He continued, "With the enactment of the Special Act on Support for Population Declining Areas, the population decline response system, which was previously government-centered, will now be led by local governments," adding, "Various support measures such as education, medical care, housing, culture, and jobs should be prepared to revitalize rural study abroad villages by utilizing the special provisions for population declining areas."

He also stated, "I will strive to include tax and financial special provisions such as exemption from preliminary feasibility studies and increased national subsidy rates, which were excluded from the Special Act on Support for Population Declining Areas, in the special law."