Preparing Solutions for Local Extinction Crisis... Pohang-Style Population Policy Promotion Briefing Held

Comprehensive Policy for Positive Population Growth Cycle Prepared, Proactive Response to Regional Extinction Crisis

Progress Review on 64 Projects in 5 Key Areas Including Job Creation and Improvement of Living Conditions

Pohang City held a ‘Pohang-Style Population Policy Promotion Briefing to Respond to Local Extinction’ on the 28th in the city hall's small conference room, taking proactive measures against the crisis of population decline and local extinction.

On the 28th, Pohang City held the "Pohang-type Population Policy Implementation Report Meeting to Respond to Local Extinction" in the City Hall small conference room, chaired by Vice Mayor Sanggil Jang, with about 30 department heads related to population policy in attendance.

The briefing, presided over by Deputy Mayor Jang Sanggil, was attended by about 30 heads of departments related to population policies. The event was organized to review the core population policy projects of each department in response to local extinction, report on new projects, and strengthen cooperation among related departments.

The city has been actively working to establish a Pohang-style population policy tailored to the region’s characteristics to proactively respond to the government's and Gyeongbuk Province’s recent focus on overcoming low birth rates.

As of April this year, Pohang’s population was 500,626, including 492,574 domestic residents. Unlike previous years, when the population decreased by 2,700 to 2,900 annually due to reasons such as school enrollment, the population only decreased by about 450 from January to April this year.

Additionally, in April this year, the population of those aged 18?26, who typically leave or return for school, decreased by 193 compared to March, but the number of young adults aged 27?35 entering the workforce increased by 233. As a result, the domestic registered population increased by 232 compared to the previous month, indicating that Pohang City’s efforts to create quality jobs and improve living conditions such as housing, education, and environment are having a positive effect according to the data.

During the briefing, the progress of 64 core projects was reviewed to promote five virtuous cycles for population growth: ▲job creation ▲improvement of living conditions ▲change in perceptions of marriage and childbirth ▲comprehensive support to overcome low birth rates ▲customized welfare for an aging society. Discussions were also held on 25 new projects with a total budget of 48.2 billion KRW.

Specific projects to address care gaps include: ▲support for care communities based in religious facilities ▲operation of early morning classes at daycare centers ▲childcare fee support for foreign children aged 0?2 ▲provision of care using idle spaces in daycare centers ▲extension of care center operating hours ▲support for care during farming seasons.

In addition, various policies were reviewed, such as ▲monthly rent support for newlywed youth ▲construction of youth stepping-stone housing ▲creation of urban forests to respond to the climate crisis to improve living conditions, as well as ▲construction of welfare housing in Ilwol-dong ▲expansion of benefits for multi-child families to respond to an aging society. The city also agreed to actively discover new policies to increase the population.

Deputy Mayor Jang Sanggil stated, “The issues of population and low birth rates are connected to all aspects of life, including jobs, housing, education, labor, healthcare, and welfare, so organic and cooperative responses from each department are necessary.” He also urged, “In line with the government’s and Gyeongbuk Province’s measures to overcome low birth rates, please make every effort to establish a comprehensive, virtuous cycle policy unique to Pohang City.”

Going forward, Pohang City plans to complete a comprehensive Pohang-style virtuous cycle population growth policy by focusing on the discovery of additional new projects and institutional improvements by each department in June, and to hold a comprehensive population policy briefing in July.