Jinju City Sees Results from Customized Population Policies... Birth Rate and Youth Population Remain Among Highest in South Gyeongsang Province

Total Fertility Rate Rebounds to 1, Highest Youth Population Ratio in the Province
Strengthening Support for Youth Employment and Housing
Expanding Settlement Infrastructure Ahead of Youth Stay Center Completion

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province is implementing customized population policies to respond to demographic changes such as low birth rates and the outflow of young people.

According to the city, based on the demographic trends survey from the National Statistical Portal (KOSIS), the provisional total fertility rate for 2025 has rebounded to 1. This marks an increase for the second consecutive year, following 0.887 in 2023 and 0.912 in 2024, and exceeds both the national and provincial averages.

The proportion of young people in Jinju also remains the highest in the province. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s resident registration statistics, as of May 2026, the proportion of young people in Jinju City was recorded at 24.90%, the highest among all cities and counties in South Gyeongsang Province since 2023.

[Photo by Jinju City] Jinju City is implementing customized population policies to address demographic changes such as low birth rates and youth population outflow. 2025 Jinju Dad Group Family Experience Event (Pilot Project for Low Birth Rate Response)

The decline in the young population is also showing signs of easing. Jinju City explained that the rate of decrease in the youth population dropped from 3.61% in 2022 to 1.70% in 2025. The city plans to expand family-friendly policies and support measures for young people to ensure this positive trend continues.

As part of citizen participation initiatives, Jinju is running programs such as “Someday Jinju,” a matchmaking program for single men and women, the “Our Family Jinju, Four Cuts” family photo contest, and the operation of “Jinju Apparan” to promote shared parenting culture.

In addition, since April, the city has been conducting research for the “Jinju City Comprehensive Population Policy Plan (2027–2031).” The city intends to establish policy directions and implementation plans for the next five years by collecting citizens’ needs and expert opinions.

In the area of youth support, Jinju is pursuing policies that connect the entire process from job preparation to long-term employment. These include the “SME Youth Employment Support Project,” which subsidizes labor costs when small and medium-sized enterprises hire young people as regular employees, as well as programs to rent out interview suits and provide welfare grants for employed youth.

To ease the financial burden on young adults just starting out, the city also provides support for obtaining driver’s licenses. Various information on youth policies is offered through the “Jinju City Youth Online Platform.”

Furthermore, the “Youth Stay Center,” which is being constructed on the site of the former Gangnam-dong Community Center, is scheduled for completion at the end of June. The center will include a youth center and youth rental housing, and will serve as a hub for supporting communication and activities among young people.

A Jinju City official stated, “Population issues require not only administrative efforts but also the interest and participation of citizens,” adding, “We will continue to strive to create a child-friendly environment and strengthen the foundation for young people to settle in the region.”

Jinju City’s recent population indicators show relatively positive trends amid nationwide low birth rates and the outflow of young people from provincial areas. In particular, the rebound in the total fertility rate and the high proportion of young people are seen as indicators that various population policies and youth support programs are having a measurable effect.

However, as population issues are structural challenges that are difficult to solve in the short term, continuous policy implementation and performance management are needed to ensure that the current achievements are not just temporary rebounds.

When policies that strengthen practical settlement conditions—such as expanding youth employment, stabilizing housing, and improving the child-rearing environment—are consistently maintained, the city is likely to make further progress toward increasing the population and revitalizing the local community.

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