"Increase the Population" ... Changwon Special City Holds First Population Policy Committee Meeting of the Year

Promoting 109 Projects Across Six Major Strategies and Four Key Areas

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held the first Population Policy Committee meeting for 2025 on the 16th at the City Hall Citizen Hall, with 30 committee members in attendance.

Changwon Special City Population Policy Committee Holds First Meeting of 2025.

The meeting began with the presentation of appointment letters to the 4th-term committee members, followed by the election of the vice-chairperson, a report and deliberation on the 2024 population policy outcomes and the 2025 implementation plan, and expert consultations.

The 4th-term committee consists of 22 experts from various fields such as employment, youth, foreigners, education, culture, care, aging society, housing, statistics, and public relations. Over the next two years, they will review and provide direction for the city’s overall population policies through regular and subcommittee meetings.

The city has finalized a budget of 343.4 billion KRW for 109 projects as part of the 2025 population policy implementation plan. This plan is centered on six major strategies: job creation in innovative industries, future security for the young generation, strengthening the social care system, adapting to a super-aged society, attracting and settling foreigners, and establishing a response system to social changes. Focused support will be provided in four key areas: employment, education, housing, and culture. Additionally, the city plans to prioritize policies that focus on socioeconomic structural transformation rather than short-term quantitative adjustment policies.

This year, as Changwon’s registered population falls below one million and the city enters a super-aged society for the first time, plans are in place to conduct research on strategies to address youth outflow, low birth rates, and administrative changes in anticipation of a shrinking society.

Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, "The role of the Population Policy Committee members is extremely important in overcoming the population crisis," and requested, "Please provide thorough advice to ensure that the city’s policies have tangible effects for citizens and that there are no overlaps or blind spots."