Sancheong-gun Records Population Increase of 65 in January Among Gyeongnam Local Governments

The Only Increase Among 18 Cities and Counties in the Province

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Among local governments in Gyeongnam Province, only Sancheong-gun recorded a population increase last month. According to Sancheong-gun on the 8th, the population of Sancheong-gun in January was 34,093, an increase of 65 people compared to last year (December).

The population growth rate compared to last year was 0.19%, ranking first in the province. Among the 18 cities and counties in the province, Sancheong-gun was the only one to show a population increase. This result is analyzed to be due to an increase in incoming population from returning to farming and rural areas, as well as homecoming. The incoming population in Sancheong-gun last year increased by 324 compared to the previous year.

Homecomings of retirees are continuing, and the incoming population returning to farming and rural living in Sancheong-gun is increasing as people leave complicated urban life behind. Also, the influx of young generations returning to their hometowns after finishing university has caused Sancheong-gun’s population to rebound and show an increasing trend in January after a period of decline.

Sancheong-eup, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam.

This is analyzed as the result of policies Sancheong-gun has implemented to maintain a population of 34,000. Sancheong-gun is making various efforts to overcome low birth rates and population decline.

Using local extinction response funds, nine projects are underway including the establishment of a youth base camp, construction of bicycle roads, improvement of the Woongjeong Dormitory educational environment, and building a Jirisan dried persimmon promotional sales center.

In particular, diverse and broad population policies covering income generation, youth housing, child education, and leisure activities are creating a future vision. First, to create jobs and continuously secure workers, efforts are focused on creating a comfortable working environment in cooperation with local companies such as those in Geumseo Agricultural and Industrial Complex and Maechun General Industrial Complex.

Additionally, efforts are underway to solve housing shortages through land development in Buriji District of Sancheong-eup, Maechun District of Geumseo-myeon, rental apartments, and land sales for the Hanbang Valley development project in Geumseo-myeon.

To revitalize the local economy and increase residents’ income, Sancheong is hosting the 2023 Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Anti-Aging Expo and various festivals. Furthermore, to improve living conditions and enhance residents’ medical welfare, Sancheong County Medical Center plans to operate an obesity prevention class.

Moreover, to realize medical welfare services led by the private sector, the Gyeongnam Sancheong Medical Welfare Social Cooperative is preparing a village doctor project. They are also focusing on supporting medical services by providing knowledge and practical methods for physical activity so that local residents can enjoy healthy lives.

A county official said, “The population issue is not caused by a single problem but is intertwined with all aspects of society, including jobs, education, housing, and local economic revitalization through market activation. We will do our best to listen to the voices of various groups such as existing residents, people returning to farming and rural areas, youth, and parents, and create a Sancheong that residents want and that people want to come to.”