The Increasing Reality of 'No Kids Zones' Amid Low Birthrate Concerns... How Should We Solve It?

Solutions for Sustainable City Seongdong Addressing Low Birthrate, Social Division, and Climate Crisis?

Presenting Long-term Problem-solving Measures through the Establishment of Seongdong-type Sustainable Development Plan with Added Resident Participation

Deliberative Discussion Scheduled on September 9 with Residents through a Public Forum for Sustainable Development Direction

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Wono) has established the Seongdong-type Sustainable Development Implementation Plan to confront serious social issues such as the low birthrate problem, deepening social division, and the climate crisis, proposing the solution of "realizing a sustainable development city."

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) refer to the 17 development goals set by the United Nations (UN) to achieve development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the foundation for future generations.

In 2021, Seongdong-gu set 17 development goals and 55 detailed targets tailored to the region based on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. To assess the achievement of each development goal, it is a 'sustainable development policy' to monitor and improve changes in statistical figures such as the proportion of social security benefit recipients, smoking rate, birthrate, unemployment rate, gender gap in employment rate, and carbon emission changes.

The Seongdong-type Sustainable Development Plan established at the end of July goes beyond showing sustainability in the environment (E), society (S), and governance (G) sectors to demonstrate a more proactive approach. Facing the current crises in our society, the plan has revised the Sustainable Development Goals by setting key tasks such as responding to the low birthrate crisis, ensuring diversity through boundaryless participation, and realizing carbon neutrality to address the climate crisis. The district plans to systematically manage these by setting implementation tasks to encourage administrative efforts going forward.

Seongdong-gu recorded a total fertility rate of 0.72 in 2022, ranking first among Seoul’s autonomous districts according to Statistics Korea. The secret lies in focusing on expanding childcare and care infrastructure, such as establishing new public and national daycare centers, and implementing resident-tailored policies by also strengthening elementary after-school care and child safety to become a "child-friendly city."

For practical gender equality, the district has changed the term "career-interrupted women" to the more positive "career-holding women" and continues related projects to help them develop their capabilities. The gender employment rate gap, which well reflects the gender equality index, has also been added as a sustainable development indicator.

Watching the drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" has broadened understanding of autism, but on the other hand, there is a desire to separate from them. While the whole society worries about the low birthrate, "No Kids Zones" continue to increase. Going forward, we must make deliberative discussions a daily practice to guarantee diversity through boundaryless participation. This is essential for realizing a sustainable society.

Accordingly, following the opening of the "Single-person Household Support Center" in August last year, the district opened a "Specialized Library for Developmentally Disabled" in March this year, where children with developmental disabilities can freely play and read books. The district also provides full support and exemplary implementation for resident autonomy projects, village community projects, and public-private cooperation projects where residents directly decide and execute village affairs. Such local communities encourage resident participation and fill administrative gaps.

To practice carbon neutrality, Seongdong-gu is making various attempts to reduce carbon emissions by dividing efforts into the sectors of buildings, roads and transportation, green spaces, and waste. Realizing carbon neutrality also requires raising residents’ awareness and cooperation. The district aims to improve residents’ consciousness by activating them as agents of change through lifecycle-based environmental education, campaigns, and unique Earth experience events.

Seongdong-gu Sustainable Development Goals

Seongdong-gu plans to hold a public forum on September 9 to explain the Seongdong-type Sustainable Development Plan to residents and have a time for deliberative discussion together on the direction of sustainable development.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “The life of a city depends on how well it maintains sustainability, and for this, we have newly established the Seongdong-type Sustainable Development Plan. It is designed to link administrative efforts to improve indicators, and together with residents, we will move forward as a city firmly equipped with sustainability.”