Introduction of the "Jeonnam Population Grand Transformation Project"
Proposal for Establishing a National Basic Birth Allowance
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, introduced the "Jeonnam Population Grand Transformation Project" on June 19 as a strategy to overcome the crisis of local extinction. He proposed a "structural overhaul" at the national level, including the realization of genuine local autonomy on par with Germany's federal system, as a solution to the population problem.
At the strategic forum held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul under the theme "Finding a Way to Shift the Axis of the Inverted Population Pyramid," Governor Kim stated, "Currently, South Korea is facing a national crisis-level situation of low birth rates and population decline, and the concentration of power in the Seoul metropolitan area is a deepening structural problem." He emphasized, "Revitalizing the regions is the path to saving the nation."
As a solution, he introduced the Jeonnam Population Grand Transformation Project, which Jeollanam-do is proactively implementing. Centered on five policy pillars?family, opportunity, inflow, settlement, and coexistence?a total of 1.3817 trillion won will be invested by 2030. To this end, Jeollanam-do declared 2024 as the "first year of overcoming the crisis of local extinction" and established the nation's first "Population and Youth Immigration Bureau."
In particular, the province is pursuing the nation's first "Basic Birth Allowance," jointly funded by the provincial and municipal governments, which provides 200,000 won to every child from birth to age 18.
Governor Kim stressed the need to strengthen the state's responsibility in addressing low birth rates, stating, "Advanced countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have achieved a rebound in birth rates by implementing similar policies," and proposed the introduction of a "national basic birth allowance."
He added, "We are also strengthening the system of shared responsibility for childbirth and childrearing through initiatives such as operating the largest number of public postpartum care centers in the country, supporting Jeonnam-style 24-hour childcare centers, and providing childcare subsidies for foreign children."
He also introduced the "Jeonnam-style Ten Thousand Won Housing" policy, which is being implemented for the first time in the country. This flagship housing policy provides newly built apartments to young people and newlyweds for a monthly rent of 10,000 won, alleviating the burden of housing costs.
He outlined plans to create exemplary models for basic income policies in Korea, including the "Jeonnam-style Basic Income" pilot project launching in Gokseong County and Yeonggwang County in the second half of this year, and the "Energy Basic Income" project, which aims to share profits from 23GW of offshore wind and solar power generation by 2030 with residents through sunlight and wind dividends.
As a result of implementing these various innovative policies, Jeollanam-do recorded a total fertility rate of 1.13 in the first quarter of this year, marking a rebound after nine years of decline. This is being highlighted as an example that demonstrates new possibilities for population policy.
Governor Kim pointed out, "No matter how hard Jeollanam-do tries, the authority for permits, budgets, and legislation remains centralized. Key powers such as industrial complex designation, social security system approval, and deregulation are concentrated in the central government, leaving local governments with their hands tied." He added, "Moreover, there is not even an institutional channel for reflecting the opinions and positions of local governments in national policy."
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