Sancheong-gun Sees Population Increase of 153 This Year

Population Increased by 72 Last Month
The Only Monthly Increase in the Province

The population of Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, has increased by 153 people since the beginning of this year. It is the only basic local government in Gyeongnam province where the population has been rising every month until April this year.

According to the resident registration population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 4th, the population of Sancheong-gun last month was 34,181, an increase of 72 from the previous month (34,109). Compared to last year (34,028), the population increased by 65 in January, 10 in February, 6 in March, and 72 in April, totaling an increase of 153 people this year.

This is the only one among the 18 local governments in Gyeongnam to show an increase for four consecutive months. The natural decrease in Sancheong-gun this year, including births (19) and deaths (174), is 155 people.

Sancheong County Office, Gyeongnam.

The number of incoming residents (as of April) was 1,311, and outgoing residents were 1,004, resulting in a net increase of 307 from migration, with one additional person added through resident registration re-registration. The population growth rate compared to last year is 0.44%, maintaining the top position in the province.

The reason why Sancheong-gun is the only area in the province showing a population increase is explained by the county as the effect of various policies. First, Sancheong-gun is implementing a mentoring support project to attract returnees to farming and rural areas, enhancing stable settlement and adaptability.

Additionally, it operates a return-to-farming and rural support center and runs projects such as the Return-to-Farming House, where people can experience rural living, and homestay support for returnees to farming and rural areas.

Furthermore, as a region experiencing population decline, Sancheong-gun is overcoming this by gathering opinions from residents in various fields through agricultural meetings, return-to-farming and rural meetings, youth meetings, population vitality forums, resident surveys, and idea contests, reflecting these in policies.

Along with these diverse policies, the clean natural environment centered around Jirisan Mountain is also analyzed to have influenced the population increase. Of Sancheong-gun’s total area, 77% is mountainous, offering advantages such as fresh air and clean water, allowing people to live a healthy second life.

It has been confirmed that about 40% of the incoming population consists of people in their 50s and 60s who want to escape the complexities of urban life and lead a healthy life in the countryside.

Moreover, the perception that Sancheong-gun is not just a remote mountain area but a place where various cultural activities can be enjoyed also seems to be reflected.

Sancheong-gun is equipped with various cultural and sports facilities, including a small movie theater, two public libraries, two swimming pools, a soccer field, a fitness center, a tennis court, eight golf practice ranges, a horseback riding center, local hiking trails, and camping sites.

Through these, residents can fully enjoy leisure activities that are often limited or unavailable in the city due to long waiting times or lack of opportunities, resulting in high user satisfaction.

Additionally, events such as the Hwangmaesan Azalea Festival, Sancheong Gotgam Festival, Saengcho Flower Moss Festival, and Oriental Medicine Herb Festival, along with the 2023 Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Anti-Aging Expo held this year, provide plenty of entertainment and attractions, which is highly appreciated.

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 regional economic revitalization through market activation. Population policies can be effective only when all these areas work smoothly like gears.”

He added, “Currently, the population aged 65 and over accounts for more than 40% of the total population in Sancheong-gun, so the influx of births and younger generations is urgently needed. To find ways to overcome this, we are conducting a five-year basic plan for responding to population decline. We will intensify efforts to establish visions and strategies according to population policies and devote all our energy to increasing the population.”