Governor Kim Dong-yeon Holds Open Debate with Public Officials in Their 20s to 40s to Seek Solutions for Low Birthrate

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo with attending officials after holding a forum on the 22nd to devise solutions for low birthrate population issues.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon held an open discussion with about 100 male and female public officials in their 20s to 40s to devise solutions for low birthrate population issues.

On the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province held the '2023 Gyeonggi Province Population Policy Forum' at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, where Governor Kim, the first and second vice governors for administration and economy, senior secretaries for policy, administration, political affairs, and Opportunity Gyeonggi, the chairman of the Provincial Innovation Committee, department heads, and employees in their 20s to 40s participated in a free discussion.

This population strategy forum was differentiated from previous events that invited population policy expert panels by focusing on hearing the voices of actual people in their 20s to 40s who have experienced or are about to experience pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare.

The forum was a follow-up to Governor Kim Dong-yeon’s proposal to hold an open discussion for public officials after receiving a report on in-depth interviews conducted in January with young people and mothers raising children.

Before the discussion, Governor Kim said, "I understand that more than 100 employees are participating, so I hope you feel comfortable and share what you want to say. I have tried various measures in the government to solve the low birthrate issue, but to be honest, we have not achieved significant results. I think society as a whole needs to work together to change culture, awareness, ways of thinking, and even the social system itself."

He continued, "The responsible departments have prepared various measures, but for today, please put those aside and speak freely as this is a place to listen to the voices of those directly involved."

Governor Kim introduced some of the opinions submitted by employees in memo form beforehand, including ▲giving up on marriage ▲support funds to encourage dating without giving up ▲I failed to get after-school care for elementary school children this time ▲a real organizational culture where public officials can take shortened working hours without feeling pressured, not just a system ▲need to encourage paternity leave ▲please increase childcare time and allow care time without pressure ▲it is very difficult for newlyweds to find housing.

Afterward, Governor Kim exchanged opinions with participating public officials on the problems and improvements of low birthrate countermeasures felt in the field regarding marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, infertility, parenting, and caregiving.

The province plans to reflect the opinions gathered from this forum in Gyeonggi Province’s population strategy to address the low birthrate.