Yeongyang-gun's Stepwise System Strategy to Overcome the Population Cliff

Population in Gyeongbuk Province Decreases Annually by the Number Equivalent to Yeongyang-gun Population

Gyeongbuk Province declared a "war against low birth rates" on the 20th, but Yeongyang-gun, located in the northern part of Gyeongbuk, has already faced a population cliff several years ago and is making every effort to overcome it.

Yeongyang County Office.

Having entered a super-aged society, Yeongyang-gun recorded 281 deaths in 2023 compared to only 29 births, with the birth population not even reaching 10% of the death population. To overcome this crisis, the county has prepared 46 population policy projects according to the life cycle (prospective parents - infants and children - adolescents - youth - seniors), establishing a foundation to provide up to 144.05 million KRW per person in support.

To increase the marriage rate, the county supports a marriage encouragement fund of 5 million KRW and up to 3 million KRW for marriage expenses. To encourage childbirth, it operates programs such as ▲support for infertility treatment costs ▲medical expense support for high-risk pregnant women ▲folic acid and iron supplement support projects. To enable parents to have children with peace of mind, various infant and child support projects are in operation, including ▲birth congratulatory gift support ▲childbirth encouragement fund support ▲shared childcare centers ▲parental allowance and childcare fee support ▲health insurance premium support for second and subsequent children.

For adolescents, programs include ▲support for school uniform purchase costs ▲education benefits ▲sanitary product support ▲operation of youth counseling and welfare centers. For youth, programs such as ▲university scholarships ▲local dormitories and Yeongyang dormitory ▲mental health support ▲temporary special youth monthly rent support ▲startup support ▲worker support projects provide not only economic assistance but also psychological support tailored to each age group.

▲Free shingles vaccination ▲free flu vaccination ▲health checkup cost support ▲early dementia screening support ▲dementia treatment cost support projects help seniors enjoy a healthy old age.

Additionally, Yeongyang-gun operates 11 projects to increase incoming population and returning farmers, providing up to 14 million KRW per person in support and services.

Specifically, for incoming residents, support includes ▲moving-in congratulatory money ▲housing rental fee support ▲address change merit incentives ▲interest support for newlywed couples’ rental deposits ▲citizen safety insurance ▲various medical fee reductions. For returning farmers, support projects include ▲expansion of farming facilities ▲purchase of agricultural machinery ▲housing repair cost support ▲startup and housing purchase support projects, creating an environment focused solely on farming and livelihood.

In the future, efforts to increase the population will continue, including support for school-age population retention through Yeongyang Love Student Support (Yeongyang Love gift certificates) and support for naturalized citizens such as marriage immigrants through Yeongyang Love Naturalized Citizen Support (Yeongyang Love gift certificates).

County Governor Oh Do-chang stated, “We operate various projects to reduce the burdens of marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing for those who come to our county,” adding, “Together with the residents, we will create a Yeongyang where people want to live and visit, and we will mobilize all administrative power to find a breakthrough in the current crisis of local extinction.”