Pocheon Sees Number of Newborns Rise for Three Consecutive Months... Up 1.8 Times from January

Successful Rebound in First-Quarter Births in Pocheon
Visible Results from the 'Pocheon-Style Population Policy'
Customized Childcare Support Drives a Positive Turnaround
Living Population Surpasses 790,000—Emerging as a 'Vibrant Population City'
Expansion of Metropolitan Transportation Network... Building a Sustainable Population Model

As South Korea grapples with the crisis of low birth rates, a hopeful sign of recovery has emerged in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The number of newborns in Pocheon has shown a marked increase for three consecutive months, indicating that the city's unique "Pocheon-style population policy" is yielding visible results.

Durun Durun Sohul. Provided by Pocheon City

A City Proven by the Numbers as 'Ideal for Raising Children'

According to Statistics Korea, the nationwide number of newborns at the beginning of this year saw the largest increase in seven years. Amid this national rebound, Pocheon's progress stands out.

The number of births in Pocheon was 36 in January, rising to 54 in February, and reaching 64 in March. This means the number of births in March was about 1.8 times higher than in January. This growth can be attributed to favorable national policies addressing low birth rates and the city's finely tuned, customized policies. The data clearly demonstrates that Pocheon's policy efforts have created a powerful synergy, not simply riding the national trend but leading it with preparation and execution.

The city is focusing on expanding experiential spaces that enhance quality of life for residents. The Durundurun education and culture complex has become a core infrastructure, completely filling the childcare gap that is the greatest concern for dual-income households.

The EBS Self-Directed Learning Center and the Pocheon Aebom 365 system are representative examples of Pocheon's unique educational competitiveness. In addition, Taebong Park Healing Zone, established after the city was selected as an excellent area for the Local Extinction Response Fund, provides citizens with a high-quality relaxation environment and lays the foundation for a "livable Pocheon."

Seamless, Lifecycle-Based Pocheon-Style Personalized Care

Policies covering all life stages of citizens are operating in close coordination. Alongside the operation of the largest public postpartum care center in northern Gyeonggi, this year the city launched the Pocheon-style postpartum care support program to further strengthen its support for healthy childbirth. Additionally, transportation and medical expense subsidies for pregnant women serve as reliable support pillars.

Efforts to reduce the financial burden on families raising children are also bearing fruit. The Pocheon Rice Support Program for Families with Multiple Children, a first-of-its-kind public-private-agriculture cooperation model in Korea, expanded its beneficiaries to families with two children this year, receiving a strong positive response. Furthermore, the city provides monthly support of 70,000 won for necessary expenses for three-year-old children, which is broader than the national standard (ages 4-5). From food to childcare fees, Pocheon continues to take responsibility through its own childcare support policies.

In addition, the city has expanded support for jeonse (long-term lease) loan interest payments to include young households. By providing subsidies for the guarantee fees of youth jeonse deposit return insurance and implementing other closely tailored housing policies, Pocheon has laid a foundation for young people to stably plan their futures in the city.

Durundurun Group. Provided by Pocheon City

Overcoming the Limits of Natural Decrease Through Dynamic Resident Population Growth

The natural decrease, where the number of deaths exceeds the number of births, is a nationwide phenomenon, and Pocheon is no exception. The city has chosen a strategy to ensure sustainability by focusing on attracting a dynamic resident population to offset this trend.

Beyond the stagnant indicator of registered population, the increase in Pocheon's "living population"—the people who actually drive the local economy—has produced visible results. Pocheon's average monthly living population is approximately 790,000, about 5.5 times its registered population. Among 107 population-decline and at-risk areas nationwide, Pocheon ranked second in terms of living population inflow, clearly demonstrating its vitality as a city that attracts people.

This vibrancy is closely tied to the rapid growth of the city's tourism and sports industries. The development of the Hantangang River area, including the Y-shaped suspension bridge, has driven an explosive influx of tourists. The city plans to further accelerate its transformation into a "vibrant city where people stay and enjoy" by establishing large-scale camping grounds along the Hantangang River. In addition, by opening a series of popular park golf courses, Pocheon is intensifying efforts to attract residents of all ages.

The rising number of births and the increase in living population through tourism and cultural sectors are strong assets unique to Pocheon. The city is committed to further improving residential conditions to convert this living population into permanent residents.

'Greater Pocheon, Better Future': Completing a Sustainable Population Virtuous Cycle

The city is implementing core future strategies to fundamentally improve residential conditions. By building a metropolitan transportation network centered on railways, Pocheon will expand the residential radius. Through innovations in transportation infrastructure, the city aims to dramatically shorten both the psychological and physical distance from Seoul and southern Gyeonggi. The timely completion of the Okjeong–Pocheon extension of Subway Line 7 and efforts to secure the GTX-G line are expected to provide a substantial incentive for younger generations to choose Pocheon as their actual place of residence.

Quality jobs are at the heart of Pocheon's population policy. The city is promoting regional economic revitalization in connection with the designation of the Peace Economy Special Zone. In addition, by nurturing advanced industries such as drones and defense—led by the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center—Pocheon plans to create jobs that appeal to young people and strengthen its standing as a self-sufficient city where work and family life can coexist.

A Pocheon city official stated, "The rebound in the number of newborns and the dynamic living population are powerful assets for Pocheon. We will continue to develop closely tailored policies that citizens can truly feel, aiming to create a distinguished and vibrant city where all generations live harmoniously together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.