Uiryeong County Leads Gyeongnam in Satisfaction with Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare
Second Highest Fertility Rate in the Province, Driven by Gender Equality and Cash Support Policies
Uiryeong County in Gyeongnam has been found to have the highest satisfaction with pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare in the province.
As of last year, the total fertility rate was 0.98, ranking second in Gyeongnam, indicating that Uiryeong County's customized population policies for infants and young children are having a tangible effect.
At the end of last year, Gyeongnam Province announced the results of the "2024 Gyeongsangnam-do Social Survey." The Gyeongnam Social Survey comprehensively assesses residents' awareness and quality of life. This year's survey targeted 25,303 household members in the province and was conducted from April 19 to May 5, 2024, covering 183 items in five areas: family and household, society, safety, health, and environment.
In this survey, Uiryeong County ranked first in Gyeongnam (43.7%) in the "pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare" welfare satisfaction category. This is about 15% higher than the overall Gyeongnam average of 29.1%.
In another category, the gender equality level (5.1 points) was also the highest in Gyeongnam, indicating that Uiryeong residents are supporting young people in childbirth and childcare based on a culture of gender equality.
Meanwhile, according to the "2024 Population Trend Survey" released by Statistics Korea on the 26th of last month, Uiryeong County's total fertility rate was 0.98, the second highest in Gyeongnam after Geochang County (1.20). This is significantly higher than the national average of 0.75 and the Gyeongnam average of 0.82.
Uiryeong County Supports First-Time Childcare Enrollment Preparation Funds. Photo by Uiryeong County
In 2022, Uiryeong County's total fertility rate was 1.02, the highest in Gyeongnam, and after two years, the figure has rebounded to the province's top level.
The rise in the fertility rate is leading to population inflow. Last year, Uiryeong County ranked second in the province for net population inflow, following Yangsan City.
Uiryeong County is actively analyzing the effectiveness of its policies as various indicators from consecutive surveys continue to show positive trends. In particular, the upward trend in population-related indicators is being welcomed.
An official from Uiryeong County said, "Uiryeong County is focusing on policies and taking the lead in the living population, such as having the highest visit rate among people in their 20s in the province. This time, we are doubly pleased as we achieved first place in satisfaction with childbirth and childcare and second place in total fertility rate among the resident population."
The county believes that the effects of "cash support" programs such as the nation's first multi-child healthy allowance and the third-child childcare allowance are not limited in Uiryeong and are showing tangible policy results.
County Governor Oh Taewan said, "By easing the criteria for multi-child families to two children and shifting child welfare policy toward 'universal welfare,' we have increased satisfaction with pregnancy and childcare and created a turning point for the fertility rate to rebound. We will complete practical population policies that provide life-cycle benefits from marriage, childbirth, and parenting to youth and young adults, so that future generations can grow up stably in Uiryeong."
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