Pohang City Holds Population Policy Symposium... Solutions to Overcome the Crisis of Local Extinction

Experts and Citizens Discuss Regional Extinction Crisis and Youth Population Outflow

Mayor Lee: "We Will Do Our Best to Set an Example in Overcoming Low Birthrate and Regional Extinction"

On July 11, in celebration of World Population Day, Pohang City held a population policy symposium at ChangeUp Ground under the theme "Population Crisis: The Role of the Nation and Local Governments" to address the challenges of low birth rates and the risk of regional extinction.

Changeup Ground Pohang.

The symposium was organized to provide a forum for experts and citizens to discuss the issues of regional extinction and youth outflow, and to seek effective countermeasures.

In the first session, Lee Sanglim, Senior Researcher at the Seoul National University Population Policy Research Center, gave a presentation on "Population Changes and Pohang's Response," while Shin Youngmi, Senior Researcher at the same center, spoke on "Can Families and Youth Dream of a Future in Pohang?" Both presentations focused on strategies for Pohang City to create a family-friendly local community.

The second session was moderated by Kim Jinhong, former Deputy Director of the Pohang Branch of the Bank of Korea. Together with the presenters and panelists from the first session, the discussion centered on the roles of the government and local authorities in addressing the population crisis.

Son Donggwang, Chairman of the Pohang City Youth Policy Coordination Committee, led a designated discussion on "The Present and Future of Pohang City’s Youth Policy," while Kim Chulkyu, former President of the Handong University Student Council, addressed "What Are the Issues Behind Youth Outflow?" The session examined the reality of youth concentration in the capital region and explored possible solutions.

Participants agreed on the necessity of stable jobs, quality education, and excellent medical and living conditions to encourage young people to remain in the region. They also emphasized the need for diverse policies to support these conditions.

Additionally, In Yongtae, a father of multiple children, discussed "Is Childcare Only a Family Issue?" and Park Donghyuk, an office worker, addressed "Pohang City Population Policy: The Perspective of Office Workers." Both examined the causes of low birth rates and debated the roles of the government and local authorities in tackling the population crisis.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "We are making multifaceted efforts to create a city where it is easy to raise children, where work and family are balanced, and where young people can stay and drive economic growth for a sustainable future. We will actively incorporate the various policy proposals discussed today into municipal administration so that Pohang City can become a model case in overcoming low birth rates and the risk of regional extinction."

Since 2017, Pohang City has been operating the nation’s first 24/7 pediatric emergency center. To realize the "three zero" welfare policy, Pohang has led the way in Gyeongbuk Province by introducing free daycare (2019), free school uniforms for new middle and high school students (2019), and free meals for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students (2021), thereby implementing a range of citizen-oriented welfare policies to ease the burden of childcare.