Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Temporary Session Inquiry
Proposal to Attract the 2nd Phase Innovation City
Kim Chang-gi (People Power Party, Mungyeong), a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, urged on the 9th during the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council plenary session that drastic measures such as the establishment of the Gyeongbuk Special Self-Governing Province and attracting the 2nd phase of Innovation Cities are necessary to counter the issue of local extinction.
Local extinction refers to the phenomenon where people no longer live in rural areas due to low birth rates and the outflow of young populations to the metropolitan area, implying the disappearance of local regions. To address this issue, various policies and studies are being implemented from different perspectives by the government, local governments, and other sectors, but the total fertility rate dropped to 0.78 in 2022, accelerating the clock of local extinction.
Regarding this, Councilor Kim pointed out, "It is difficult to respond to local extinction with the current autonomous authority of Gyeongbuk Province under existing laws such as the Local Autonomy Act," and emphasized, "Through the establishment of the Gyeongbuk Special Self-Governing Province, we must strengthen decentralization by easing regulations, discovering special provisions, and transferring authority, and enhance tax reduction authority for companies relocating to areas at risk of extinction to attract excellent companies and talent from the metropolitan area."
He also explained the recently introduced concept of the living population, inquired about Gyeongbuk’s living population goals and attraction plans, and proposed measures to attract the 2nd phase of Innovation Cities.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
