Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member Baek Jonghan Urges Active Response to Population Decline Crisis

'Basic Ordinance on Population Policy' Passes Standing Committee

Baek Jonghan, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, announced that the "Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Basic Ordinance on Population Policy," which he proposed at the 329th temporary session, passed the standing committee on the 21st.

Jonghan Baek, Seo-gu Council Member. Photo by Jonghan Baek

Baek stated, "As of the end of 2020, Seo-gu is experiencing a 'dead cross' phenomenon where the number of deaths exceeds the number of births. Among the five districts of Gwangju, Seo-gu recorded the lowest total fertility rate from 2020 to 2024 at 0.59," and added, "According to Article 32 (Support for Prevention and Management of Population Decline, etc.) of the 'Special Act on Support for Areas with Population Decline,' we must proactively respond to the crisis of population decrease."

The main contents of the ordinance include: ▲resident population ▲basic plan for population policy ▲establishment, composition, and operation of the Population Policy Deliberation Committee ▲matters related to population education and research, among others.

Baek said, "In my five-minute free speeches in November and February, I called on Seo-gu Office to actively prepare countermeasures against the crisis of local extinction and population decline, but the efforts are still insufficient," and continued, "I hope to see more proactive and practical administration from Seo-gu Office to overcome the crises of population decrease and local extinction."