Busan City Holds 13th Population Day Commemorative Event

Around 1:40 PM on the 11th at City Hall, over 200 attendees including the Deputy Mayor, district and county officials, public corporations, affiliated organizations, and citizens

Special lecture by Professor Kangrae Ma of Chung-Ang University: "Local Government Innovation Strategies to Lead a New Future Beyond the Population Decline Crisis"

The city of Busan will hold the '13th Population Day Commemoration Event' at 1:40 PM on the 11th at the International Conference Hall of City Hall.

This year's event will proceed in the order of awarding contributors to population policy, commemorative speeches, and a special lecture.

About 200 people, including Lee Joonseung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, officials from districts and counties, public corporations and agencies, employees from funded and affiliated institutions, and citizens, will attend the event.

The awardees for contributions to population policy are: Han Jieun, former Senior Manager of Elderly Welfare Facilities in Yeongdo-gu, and Jung Jeongsun, Deputy Director at the Busan Branch of the Planned Population and Health Welfare Association. Han Jieun was recognized for establishing the Yeongdo-gu Smart Senior Complex Cultural Space and revitalizing the operation of elderly welfare facilities. Jung Jeongsun was acknowledged for improving awareness of birth-friendly policies, creating a supportive environment for pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, and promoting maternal and child health.

Notably, this event will feature a special lecture by Professor Ma Kangrae from the Department of Urban Planning and Real Estate at Chung-Ang University, who has shown deep insight into population policy through appearances on JTBC's 'Different Class' and KBS's 'Myeonggyeonmanri.'

Professor Ma will provide in-depth insights on the topic 'Beyond the Population Decline Crisis: Innovative Strategies for Local Governments to Lead a New Future,' addressing the current population decline issue facing our society and the role of local governments in overcoming it.

Professor Kangrae Ma Special Lecture Poster.

Deputy Mayor Lee Joonseung stated, "I hope today's Population Day event will serve as an important turning point for us to move forward together in response to the era-defining challenges of local extinction and population decline," adding, "The city will continue to make efforts with citizens to create 'Busan, a city where people want to live even if born again.'"

As of July 1, the city established the Population Policy Officer within the Planning Office to implement comprehensive measures against population decline, support for foreign resident settlement, and support for multicultural families, thereby pursuing thorough population policies.