The Only Population Growth Among Jeonnam’s Declining Regions
Next Year, 19,875 County Residents Expected to Benefit
Shinan County in Jeonnam Province (Governor Park Wooryang) announced on the 24th that the cumulative profit from the Sunlight Pension has surpassed 22 billion KRW. The Sunlight Pension, which began with the first payment of 2.1 billion KRW in 2021, has rapidly increased every year, providing tangible economic benefits to local residents. In 2025, the annual payout is expected to reach 12 billion KRW, and from 2026 onward, it is projected to rise to 13.7 billion KRW per year.
Since the first payment, the Sunlight Pension has continued to surge, reaching 10 billion KRW by the third quarter of 2023, and as of the fourth quarter of 2024, it has now surpassed 22 billion KRW.
In particular, once Jeonnam Offshore Wind Power Co., Ltd. is completed, the annual profit, including the Wind Pension, will exceed 12 billion KRW from 2025, and after the completion of the Shini solar power plant in 2026, it will increase to 13.7 billion KRW annually. This growth has significantly improved residents’ acceptance and perceptions of solar and wind energy, while also having a positive impact on the local economy.
Since May 2023, the Sunlight Child Allowance has also been distributed. Approximately 3,000 children under the age of 18 received 400,000 KRW each, and in 2024, the amount increased to 800,000 KRW per child. This year, a total of 1.2 million KRW will be provided, paid in monthly installments of 100,000 KRW.
Currently, the Sunlight Pension is distributed in six areas?Anjwa, Jara, Jido, Saokdo, Imjado, and Bigeumdo?and, including recipients of the Sunlight Child Allowance in other towns and townships, 43% of county residents, or a total of 16,333 people, are benefiting. With the addition of the Ja-eun-myeon offshore wind power and Shini-myeon solar power facilities currently under construction, the proportion of residents receiving the Sunlight and Wind Pension is expected to reach about 52%, totaling 19,875 people.
As a result, Shinan County, which is classified as a high-risk area for population aging and regional extinction, recorded a population of 38,173 as of December 2024, an increase of 136 people compared to the previous year. In 2023, the population grew by 179, making Shinan County the only area among Jeonnam’s population-declining regions to see two consecutive years of population growth, which is a remarkable achievement.
A county official stated, “There were many challenges at the initial stage of implementing the profit-sharing policy, but thanks to the residents’ trust and cooperation with the county’s policies, the Sunlight Pension has been successful. We will also accelerate the offshore wind power project so that all county residents can share an annual profit of 6 million KRW, providing even more stable income for local residents.”
The official added, “We will continue to strive for mutual growth between renewable energy and residents, addressing climate change and population decline issues, and achieving sustainable development.”
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