Geochang-gun, Defend the Population of 60,000... Launching Population Decline Project

Finding Answers in 'Together with the Region' Through New Planning and Paradigm Shift

Geochang County Office, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, has been implementing various population increase policies while seeking answers together with local residents to maintain the symbolic "60,000 population" that has been sustained for over 20 years since the population collapse of 70,000 in 2000.

Nationally, issues such as low birth rates and population extinction have emerged as serious problems. Population decline causes gaps between classes and generations, as well as infrastructure aging, reduction of public services, and decreased tax revenue, ultimately leading to the collapse of local communities and, further, the dreadful outcome of regional decline.

Given this situation, Geochang-gun views the 60,000 population as a symbolic figure that the current generation must protect for regional development and future generations. The county is pursuing policies such as a public-private joint response project to population decline, securing funds to counter regional extinction, and increasing the youth population, seeking opportunities amid the crisis to maintain the 60,000 population.

The county recognizes that while the national total population decline is due to natural increase and decrease, population changes by region are more significantly influenced by social factors, and is discovering and implementing related policies accordingly.

Since holding the Population Structure Acceleration Response Report Meeting in August, the county has been working with residents to solve population issues by promoting projects such as the "Two-person Population Increase Project for Former Village Chiefs" and the public-private joint response relay agreement.

In particular, through the "Two-person Population Increase Project for Former Village Chiefs," as of October 27, 206 people have moved in, demonstrating the effectiveness of the "public-private joint response governance."

Geochang-gun places the core of population issue response on the youth and is implementing youth policies for employment and social participation.

In the 8th elected administration, youth-related pledges such as constructing a Youth Startup Support Center, building youth rental housing, and providing youth allowances have been adopted to implement tailored policies needed by young people. The county plans to create a unique youth policy model that overcomes the regional extinction crisis through population increase via youth and revitalization of the region.