[Special Measures for Regional Extinction] Protecting 'Jibang' by Increasing 'Lifestyle Benefits' Instead of Pouring Money

Government Announces 'Expansion Plan for Regulatory Exceptions in Population Decline Areas'
Focus on Effective Population Attraction Measures Instead of Simple Financial Input
Utilize Closed Schools, Ease Building Regulations, and Improve 'Living Conditions'
Emphasis on Increasing Resident Population Through Regional Economic Revitalization

To revive local cities facing extinction due to population decline, the government is set to actively promote incentives utilizing special regulatory exceptions. The core plan is to transfer closed schools to local governments free of charge for use as population attraction hubs and to offer benefits such as increased floor area ratios when building hospitals or sports facilities to prevent local extinction. Given that long-term policies involving tens of trillions of won in funding have effectively failed, the approach now focuses on measures that citizens can immediately feel.

On the 18th, the government announced the 'Expansion Plan for Regulatory Exceptions in Population Declining Areas,' confirmed at the 42nd State Affairs Ministerial Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, emphasizing practical expansion of exceptions.

This reflects concerns that despite nationwide efforts to overcome the population crisis, the national total population has begun to decline, accelerating the population crisis starting from local areas. Since the birth rate has continued to fall for several years despite an annual budget of nearly 50 trillion won for low birthrate countermeasures, there is a rationale for seeking alternative solutions.

Previously, in June 2022, the government enacted the 'Special Act on Support for Population Declining Areas' to grant 36 exceptions to 89 population declining areas. This was praised for establishing an institutional foundation for systematic support across various fields such as childcare, education, healthcare, housing, and culture.

However, linked to regulations created during periods of population growth, limitations in effectiveness became apparent. Even in taxation and finance, most were not reflected in the special act, and coordination with other ministries was difficult. Essentially, only the framework was created and then left unattended.

The additional exceptions chosen by the government this time are all 'life-oriented' benefits. They consist of a total of 26 tasks across three main areas: ▲Improvement of residential conditions (12 cases) ▲Expansion of living population (7 cases) ▲Revitalization of the local economy (7 cases), with 11 of these able to be implemented immediately through presidential decrees or rule revisions without legislative amendments.

First, the government plans to induce the establishment of population attraction hubs by utilizing unused closed schools nationwide. Special exception regulations will be prepared to allow free transfer of closed school properties to local governments when implementing local extinction response projects, actively utilizing local governments' closed school assets.

They also proposed easing building coverage ratios and floor area ratios by up to 1.2 times when promoting extinction response projects such as comprehensive medical facilities and sports facilities in population declining areas. This measure considers difficulties in construction due to restrictions on floor area ratios or building coverage ratios when building hub facilities with local extinction response funds.

Attempts to revitalize the local economy and increase the living population itself will also be made. The scope of fishing port facilities will be expanded to activate private investment in national fishing ports, and shared property and goods usage fees and lease fees will be reduced for migrants to population declining areas. Additionally, measures will follow to ▲promote rural study programs for urban area students ▲allow construction of forestry mountain housing when migrating for residence ▲relax standards for resort condominium rooms.

The government stated that the regulatory exceptions announced that day will be promptly pursued for necessary amendments to the 'Special Act on Support for Population Declining Areas' or individual laws depending on the nature of the exceptions to ensure swift application. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said, "This plan will breathe new life into population declining areas facing local extinction crises and contribute to revitalizing the local economy. We will continue to lead regulatory improvements by discovering exceptions that provide practical help to citizens' lives through local communication and expert analysis."

Lim Cheol-eon, Director General of the Balanced Development Support Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is speaking at a joint briefing with related ministries on expanding regulatory exceptions for population decline areas at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@