Geochang-gun, Population Vitality Idea Contest Amid Local Extinction Crisis

Fresh and Creative Ideas Tailored to Regional Characteristics

Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is holding a contest for residents to submit ideas to revitalize the population and overcome the crisis of population decline and local extinction until April 20.

This contest was organized to raise awareness of the local extinction crisis following Geochang-gun's designation as a population decline area, increase residents' interest, and actively collect fresh and creative opinions from residents to find effective measures to boost population vitality by increasing the settled population and expanding the living population.

The contest categories include ▲ projects to establish infrastructure providing daily life-related services ▲ projects and programs supporting youth settlement and income generation ▲ projects to minimize population decline (outflow) and overcome low birth rates ▲ overall regional population revitalization projects such as attracting return-to-farm and return-to-village retirees linked with local resources and expanding the living population.

Residents wishing to participate can submit their ideas through the county office website (Nuri-jip) under ‘Resident Participation - Resident Proposals,’ or by visiting or mailing to the county office’s strategic department.

Submitted ideas will undergo a comprehensive review, and awards will be given to 1 grand prize winner (prize money 700,000 KRW), 2 excellence winners (prize money 500,000 KRW), and 3 encouragement winners (prize money 300,000 KRW). The results will be announced on the county office website in May.

Ryu Hyun-bok, the strategic officer, said, “We hope that this contest will bring forth fresh and creative ideas suited to the characteristics of our county to revitalize the population,” and added, “We ask residents to participate actively with affection and interest in the local revitalization.”