Growth and New Challenges Seen in the '2024 Resident Registration Population Statistics'
290,000 as of Last Year-End → 7.8% Sharp Increase Compared to 2023
Future City Growth to 500,000 by 2035... Thorough Preparation Underway
Gyeonggi Yangju City (Mayor Kang Su-hyun) announced on the 9th that it ranked first in population growth among cities and counties in northern Gyeonggi Province according to the ‘2024 Resident Registration Population Statistics’ recently released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
According to the statistics, as of the end of December 2024, the resident registration population of Yangju City was approximately 290,000, an increase of 20,979 people, or about 7.8%, compared to 2023. This figure far exceeds the average growth rate of 0.46% among cities and counties in the province.
Last year, the city also demonstrated remarkable growth by securing first place nationwide in population growth rate among local governments based on the ‘2023 Korea Population and Housing Census’ announced by Statistics Korea.
Yangju City analyzed that this result is a combined effect of the united spirit of its citizens, passionate enthusiasm for Yangju’s development, and policy efforts implemented across all sectors including roads, transportation, education, and culture.
Currently, Yangju City is continuously attracting population by gaining recognition for residential value and living convenience, starting with the development projects of Okjeong and Hoecheon new towns, the largest in the eastern and northern metropolitan area.
In line with this, in 2024, Yangju City focused on establishing infrastructure for regional development such as the construction of Eunnam General Industrial Complex and Gyeonggi Yangju Technovalley, as well as the development of the Yangju Station area. It also concentrated on building a comprehensive metropolitan transportation network including the construction projects of Subway Line 7 Dobongsan~Okjeong, Okjeong~Pocheon metropolitan railway, GTX-C line, reopening of the Gyeongui Line, the Second Capital Region Circular Expressway, and the Seoul~Yangju Expressway.
Furthermore, the city made all-out efforts to establish educational and cultural foundations by designating pilot areas for education development special zones, selecting the ‘Autonomous Public High School 2.0 Project,’ and hosting cultural festivals such as the 3 Yeorae 2 Josa Sarira Relocation Commemorative Cultural Festival honoring the permanent return of the homeland after 100 years, the Royal Festival, the Ten Million Celosia Festival, and the Drone Bot Festival.
Alongside these, Yangju united with its citizens to attract an international skating rink, establish a separate Yangju Office of Education, and separate the central medical service area. As a result, the city achieved a remarkable milestone by being selected in September last year as the site for the ‘Northeastern Gyeonggi Innovative Public Medical Center,’ completing a brilliantly shining year.
On the other hand, concerns have arisen regarding social issues such as traffic congestion and increased demand for public services caused by rapid population growth, along with new challenges for balanced growth.
In response, Mayor Kang Su-hyun of Yangju City stated in his 2025 New Year’s address, “We will proactively respond ahead of changes and pioneer the path with a spirit of adaptive innovation (응변창신, 應變創新), advancing vigorously toward greater hope and a brighter future in the new year,” and presented seven key policy directions for Yangju City to leap forward as the central city of northern Gyeonggi Province.
The seven key policy directions are ▲Vibrant Economic City ▲Transportation Hub City ▲Dream Education City ▲Cultural City ▲Happy Daily Life in Yangju ▲Securing Urban Growth Engines ▲Citizen-led Administration.
Yangju City is actively supporting local small businesses and companies amid economic downturns through proactive livelihood recovery policies, while hastening the construction of the Okjeong~Pocheon metropolitan railway and GTX-C line projects. It is also working diligently to create faster and more convenient transportation networks by expanding Subway Line 1 and introducing shuttle trains.
Additionally, focusing on improving basic academic skills, the city is building the ‘Yangju-type Integrated Care System for Preschoolers’ where urban and rural areas grow together, and is designing a citizen-centered customized learning environment, envisioning the realization of a ‘Dream Education City that everyone wants to enjoy.’
Moreover, Yangju plans to further develop its identity as a cultural tourism city with dignity as the ancestral home of northern Gyeonggi, where 630 years of history breathe, by continuously promoting the UNESCO World Heritage registration of Hoeamsaji, a representative historical and cultural asset of Yangju.
Following the reopening of the Gyeongui Line, the city intends to restore Ilyeong Station and develop tourism branding, establish ‘cultural small zones’ by region with events such as the Hoeamsaji Royal Festival, Ten Million Celosia Festival, Yangju Cultural Heritage Night Tour, and Drone Bot Festival, creating conditions where all citizens can easily enjoy culture.
Mayor Kang promised, “We will promote the construction of a comprehensive child support center and complete the ‘Yangju-type 365 Village Care System’ to create a seamless public childcare environment. We will also operate on-duty medical institutions and public late-night pharmacies so that citizens can receive medical services safely regardless of night or holidays, preventing medical service gaps. Furthermore, we will implement proactive comprehensive disaster safety measures to realize a ‘safe Yangju from natural and social disasters’ and a ‘happy daily life in Yangju without exclusion.’”
He also emphasized that support for youth, including assistance with certification acquisition and support for young CEOs, will not be spared for those striving hard in difficult environments.
Preparations for securing urban growth engines for a future population of 500,000 by 2035 are also thorough.
The city will focus administrative capabilities on the smooth progress of the ‘Northeastern Gyeonggi Innovative Public Medical Center’ construction, which will greatly contribute to improving medical services in the area, and take the lead in expediting the development of the Yangju Station area.
Along with this, to enable citizens to enjoy happy daily lives with their beloved families, the city will pay close attention to the smooth progress of projects closely related to citizens’ lives, such as the indoor Jokgu (foot volleyball) court within the Cultural and Arts Center site, a sports center for the disabled, the Deokgye District Sports Center, and the establishment of a resource recovery center.
Mayor Kang also pledged to communicate with citizens and implement citizen-led administration to realize a Yangju that leaps forward together with its people.
The city explained that it will operate the resident participation budget system effectively to realize the administration desired by citizens and hold briefing sessions for various major projects to reflect citizens’ opinions in city governance as much as possible.
Through diverse city administration promotions using SNS, the city will expand communication channels with citizens and strengthen participation. It will also enhance administrative trust and protect citizens’ rights by operating direct mayoral email, integrity citizen auditors, and citizen ombudsmen.
Mayor Kang Su-hyun said, “As we welcome the new year of Eulsa, I hope this news of population growth will bring hope and a positive message to our citizens. We will continue to make policy efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens so that those who have chosen Yangju can live more comfortably and happily.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
