Gwangju City to Hold 'Population Policy Forum' on the 20th

Seeking Solutions for Population Diagnosis and Youth Exodus

Poster for Gwangju Population Policy Forum. Provided by Gwangju City

In the midst of a population decline crisis, accelerated by the outflow of young people and a falling birth rate, a forum will be held in Gwangju to diagnose the city's population issues and seek solutions.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that it will co-host the "2024 Gwangju Population Policy Forum" with the Gwangju Research Institute at 2 p.m. on the 20th at the Mudeung Hall in City Hall.

The theme of the forum is "The Future of Local Cities Amid the Population Crisis: Seeking Solutions for Gwangju." The event will diagnose major population issues facing Gwangju and discuss solutions with related organizations and private experts.

The forum will begin with a presentation by Yoo Hyejeong, Director of the Population Research Center at the Korean Peninsula Future Population Institute, titled "Diagnosing the Population Strength of Gwangju and Other Major Local Cities." This will be followed by a presentation by Moon Yeonhee, a research fellow at the Gwangju Research Institute, on "Gwangju Population Strategy 2.0."

During the panel discussion, Choi Chiguk, President of the Gwangju Research Institute, will serve as the moderator to discuss population policies for Gwangju's sustainable development. Panelists include Yeom Jiseon, research fellow at the Korea Institute of Public Administration; Kim Yunseung, associate research fellow at the Daegu Policy Research Institute; Yoon Heecheol, Director of the Korea Sustainable Development Center; Park Taesoon, research fellow at the Gwangju Women's Family Foundation; and Kim Yongjin, Gwangju's Population Policy Officer.

Gwangju's population peaked at 1,475,884 in 2014 (based on resident registration) and has been declining since then. The main causes of the decline are attributed to the low birth rate and the outflow of young people to the Seoul metropolitan area. In major local cities like Gwangju, the lack of jobs, education, and cultural infrastructure is accelerating the outflow of young people to the capital region.

The city plans to incorporate the policy recommendations presented at the forum into various population policies, including the development of long-term strategies such as the "2nd Five-Year Population Policy Plan" and measures to address the low birth rate.

Meanwhile, Gwangju is implementing various birth and childcare policies, such as the 10 a.m. start time for elementary school parents, the Grandchild Caregiver program, and public late-night children's hospitals. The city is also seeking to create youth jobs through government-designated special zones such as the Education Development Special Zone, Opportunity Development Special Zone, and Urban Convergence Special Zone, as well as by building an AI-centered city and a future automotive national industrial complex.