Gwangyang City Regains Status as a '1,000 Births' City After 5 Years

Cumulative Births Reach 1,038 as of November

Gwangyang City in South Jeolla Province announced that it has once again surpassed 1,000 annual births, reaching this milestone for the first time in five years since recording 1,024 newborns in 2020.

As of the end of November 2025, the number of births in Gwangyang City stood at 1,038. After a cumulative total of 960 births through October, an additional 78 babies were born in November alone, allowing the city to surpass the 1,000 mark sooner than expected.

Exterior view of Gwangyang City Hall.

This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the intensifying nationwide trend of ultra-low birth rates. Approximately 60% of the 229 cities, counties, and districts across the country have not reached 1,000 annual births, and many small and medium-sized cities remain in the 500 to 900 range. Against this backdrop, the rebound in Gwangyang’s birth numbers is considered an exceptional outcome relative to the city’s size.

The city also highlighted that the cumulative number of births through November increased by 22.7% compared to the same period last year. The cumulative figure rose from 846 in 2024 to 1,038 in 2025, an increase of 192 newborns. The city attributed this growth to the effects of new and expanded pregnancy and childbirth support policies implemented between 2024 and 2025.

Key support programs newly introduced or expanded over the past two years include a 1 million won pregnancy congratulatory grant, additional medical expense support for older pregnant women (up to 500,000 won), expanded postpartum care support (from 800,000 won to 1 million won for general mothers), and eased eligibility for birth congratulatory grants (residency requirement reduced from one year to six months).

To further support families experiencing infertility, the city has expanded transportation cost support for infertile couples (up to 200,000 won per procedure) and increased subsidies for infertility treatment out-of-pocket expenses (up to 25 procedures per birth, with a maximum of 1 million won). These measures have effectively reduced the financial burden from early pregnancy through childbirth.

In addition, changes in the local industrial structure and residential environment have also contributed to the increase in births. The influx of residents in their 20s to 40s, driven by Gwangyang Steelworks and related industries, as well as the expansion of new apartment supply and improvements in living conditions, have created a more affordable and stable living environment compared to neighboring cities, further supporting the rise in births.

Hwang Youngsook, Director of the Birth and Health Division, stated, "This is a valuable achievement resulting from the combined efforts of Gwangyang City to make the city a great place to have and raise children, as well as the trust of our citizens and the local community." She added, "We will further solidify our position as a birth-friendly city by opening a public postpartum care center in 2026 and continuing to promote childbirth-friendly policies."