Yeongyang-gun's Strenuous Efforts to Overcome the Population Cliff

Yeongyang-gun, located in the northern part of Gyeongbuk, has been facing a population cliff for several years and is making every effort to overcome it.

Starting with the creation of about 150 jobs through the attraction of a pumped-storage power plant in December last year, which brought many workers to the construction site and revitalized lodging facilities and restaurants, the Yeongyang Fire Station, which began operations on the 24th, is expected to bring a significant turning point in increasing the resident population with 106 full-time staff working there.

In addition, by utilizing the Local Extinction Response Fund, a stay-type rural village with 10 units in Yeongyang-eup and a settlement-type small farm being established in Cheonggi-myeon will introduce a new model combining rental rural houses and agricultural experience facilities (smart farms), enabling coexistence of housing and income.

This is an attempt to transform the area into a space that can catch two rabbits at once, preparing new settlement facilities centered on returnees and retirees due to the increasing demand for returning to farming and rural living, forming a population inflow model suited to Yeongyang-gun’s characteristics and laying the foundation for the region’s future growth engine.

Also, to directly assist residents struggling with the burden of marriage and child-rearing costs, starting this year, the ‘Marriage Cost Support Project’ has changed from providing 3 million KRW per couple to 3 million KRW per spouse, offering a total benefit of 6 million KRW. The ‘Young Couple Making Project’ has expanded from a one-time marriage encouragement payment of 5 million KRW to 5 million KRW annually for three years, totaling up to 15 million KRW, easing the burden of marriage regardless of fluctuating prices.

The ‘Childbirth Encouragement Fund’ will also be doubled in support: for the first child (3 years) from 100,000 KRW to 200,000 KRW per month / 2.4 million KRW per year; for the second child (3 years) from 150,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW per month / 3.6 million KRW per year; and for the third child (5 years) from 200,000 KRW to 400,000 KRW per month / 4.8 million KRW per year, creating an environment where parents can fully enjoy the joy of having and raising children.

County Governor Oh Do-chang said, “We will make great efforts to find more practical and tangible solutions and carry out administration accordingly,” adding, “It is time to improve social awareness to fundamentally address the root causes of low birth rates in the long term. We must reduce the burden of marriage by establishing a family-friendly culture.”