Serious Low Birthrate Era 'Reversing' Draws Attention to Jeonnam Local Governments

Damyang-gun's Total Fertility Rate in 2023 is 1.13...Significantly Exceeding the National Average of 0.72

Increased from 0.86 in 2022...Analyzing Customized Support Policies as a Turning Point

There is a local government that is going against the trend in a positive way in the era of low birth rates.

This is the story of Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do. Last year, Damyang-gun's total fertility rate was 1.13, significantly exceeding the national average of 0.72.

According to statistics released by the Korea National Statistical Office on the 28th of last month, the nationwide total fertility rate last year was 0.72, Jeollanam-do's was 0.97, while Damyang-gun's was 1.13, a significant increase from 0.86 the previous year.

The county analyzes that the sustained promotion of childbirth incentives and customized support policies for infants, young children, and pregnant women have been the turning point in reversing the birth rate decline.

Expanded with county funds from national pregnancy and childbirth support projects, the "Multi-child Family Diaper Support Project" and the "Mother and Newborn Health Care Out-of-Pocket Expense Support Project" have received great responses from families with newborns, contributing to the rise in birth rates.

Additionally, rural-oriented education policies tailored to local characteristics, such as the special program to save small schools facing closure and the elementary school enrollment congratulatory fund support project implemented since last year, have also been identified as effective.

Lee Byeong-no, the mayor of Damyang-gun, said, "We will expand related policies so that the birth rate can gradually increase and make Damyang-gun a good place to have and raise children."