Hongseong County Recovers Population of 100,000 After Eight Years

As of the 28th, population reaches 100,003
Improvements in residential conditions in Naepo New Town and other factors contribute

Lee Yongrok, Hongseong County Governor, looking at the population display board showing a population of 100,003, surpassing 100,000. / Photo by Hongseong County

As of April 28, Hongseong County in South Chungcheong Province reached a population of 100,003 registered residents, recovering a population of 100,000 for the first time in about eight years.

While local governments across the country are facing a severe population decline crisis, Hongseong County's achievement in regaining a population of 100,000 is being attributed to improvements in residential conditions in Naepo New Town, centered on the expansion of apartment housing, as well as ongoing population growth policies.

Since population statistics began in 1960, Hongseong County's population peaked at around 154,000 in 1965, then steadily declined, dropping sharply below 100,000 in 1996.

However, with the development of Naepo New Town in 2012, the population began to rebound, surpassing 100,000 in 2017. Due to insufficient residential infrastructure and other reasons, the population fell again to 97,000 by 2023.

Some interpret this recent recovery to 100,000 not only as a result of the short-term factor of new apartment move-ins, but also as a sign that local living conditions have improved to some extent, reflecting a positive assessment of the area's residential appeal and living infrastructure.

In recent years, the county has experienced population decline due to a combination of factors, including falling birth rates, the outflow of young people to the Seoul metropolitan area, and accelerating population aging. In response, Hongseong County has actively implemented comprehensive strategies to increase the population, such as reducing acquisition taxes for households with newborns and providing interest support for jeonse and monthly rent loans to newlywed couples with multiple children.

In particular, the county has focused on expanding residential infrastructure, while also working to improve education, culture, and job opportunities as part of efforts to enhance living conditions. Through multifaceted policy responses, including attracting an innovation city and being selected for a national industrial complex, Hongseong is laying the foundation to become a "city where people want to live."

Recently, the county launched the "Hongseong County Population Policy Committee," which brings together experts from both the public and private sectors. The committee aims to establish an effective population response model through systematic policy measures, as part of ongoing efforts to sustain population growth.

Lee Yongrok, Governor of Hongseong County, stated, "The recovery of a population of 100,000 is more than just a number. It is not the end, but rather the beginning," adding, "We will continue to make improving the quality of life for our residents the top priority in county administration."