Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Nationwide Effort Needed to Address Population Decline and Aging Issues"

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, Joins the "Population Issue Awareness Improvement Relay Campaign"
Names Lee Gwonjae, Mayor of Osan, and Kim Jaesu, Chairman of Goyangdongbu Saemaeul Geumgo, as Next Participants

On May 13, Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, participated in the "Population Issue Awareness Improvement Relay Campaign" organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Human Resources Development Institute for Health and Welfare, calling for greater public attention to population issues.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, is participating in the "Population Issue Awareness Improvement Relay Campaign" on the 13th. Provided by Goyang Special City

This campaign was launched to widely raise awareness about the seriousness of population decline caused by low birth rates and an aging population, and to build a social consensus on the importance of addressing population issues.

Since its launch in October last year, the campaign has been conducted in a relay format, starting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and expanding to local governments, public institutions, and companies nationwide. Goyang City joined the campaign upon the recommendation of Kim Sungje, mayor of Uiwang.

For the next participants in the relay campaign, Lee Donghwan designated Lee Gwonjae, mayor of Osan, and Kim Jaesu, chairman of Goyangdongbu Saemaeul Geumgo, to further promote the campaign's spread.

To respond effectively to a society with low birth rates and an aging population, Goyang Special City has allocated a budget of 798.5 billion won this year and is implementing 133 policy projects across four sectors under the goal of "a sustainable Goyang where all generations can be happy together."

To create a city that is ideal for childbirth and childrearing, the city expanded childbirth support payments last year. This year, it plans to establish additional Together Care Centers and municipal daycare centers in line with the move-in schedule for new apartment complexes in the second half of the year. The city is also implementing a policy to ease the eligibility criteria for child care services, thereby reducing the personal financial burden for users.

In addition, to respond to the entry into a super-aged society, the city is promoting policies to expand economic activities and social participation among the elderly. This year, it will provide 9,291 customized senior jobs and, through programs such as "Senior-to-Senior Care," "Experience Transfer Activities," and "Food Safety Helpers," aims to enhance social engagement and a sense of accomplishment among the elderly population.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "A nationwide response to population decline and aging is necessary. I hope this campaign will help raise public interest in these issues, and we will continue to actively pursue tailored policies to address population challenges, including marriage, childbirth, and childrearing."