[K-Women Talk] New Local Governments Must Find Answers to Population Issues

Published 15 Jun.2026 11:00(KST)

On June 3, new local governments were inaugurated through elections. The heads of local governments, having overcome fierce competition and earned the support of the people, are likely both excited and busy as they prepare the blueprint for the next four years of governance. However, the joy of their victory is brief, as a host of unresolved regional challenges awaits them.

Among these, the most difficult challenge is the population issue. Since the population problem concerns the very existence of local governments, most local leaders are expected to initially devote significant attention to it and place it at the top of their policy priorities. However, because population issues do not yield immediate results, there is a high likelihood that, over time, the initial commitment of local leaders will wane. This has often been the case in the past.

However, with the total fertility rate showing a slight rebound, now is the perfect opportunity to strengthen this upward trend by promoting a positive perception of pregnancy and childbirth and by improving the childcare environment. Therefore, newly inaugurated local government leaders should not miss this opportunity; they must keep population issues as their top priority and pursue them consistently.

According to current regional statistics on total fertility rate in Korea, South Jeolla Province has the highest rate among metropolitan governments at 1.10, while Seoul has the lowest at 0.63. Among basic local governments, Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province has held the top spot for seven consecutive years with a total fertility rate of 1.79. Since fertility rates tend to be higher in areas with fewer women of childbearing age, the actual highest number of babies were born in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, where Dongtan New Town is located, with nearly 8,000 births last year. By examining the cases of basic local governments with high total fertility rates or a large number of births, we can find answers to addressing the population issue.

First, continuous attention from local leaders is vital. Yeonggwang County has maintained a high fertility rate because the local government directly operates youth parenting centers equipped with emergency care facilities and infant playgrounds, and actively supports the obstetrics and gynecology department in a general hospital with a delivery room. In this way, the local government systematically manages the entire process of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare.

Second, creating an environment where workplaces are close to residential areas is essential. In the case of Dongtan, companies, hospitals, cultural spaces, and distribution facilities are all concentrated around residential areas, greatly increasing the convenience and satisfaction of young dual-income couples. This is why local leaders must focus on expanding essential infrastructure such as transportation and hospitals.

Third, it is necessary to build a coalition among local economic organizations, media, and civic groups to address the low birth rate. A child-friendly environment must be established both in the workplace and throughout the local community. In this regard, related organizations within the region need to form cooperative networks to promote work-life balance and to share and spread positive perceptions of childbirth and parenting.

In this context, the recent comprehensive revision of the Basic Population Strategy Act, which mandates the appointment of a 'Chief Population Policy Officer' for each metropolitan government, is highly significant. Creating a position within local governments responsible for managing population issues on a continuous basis is essential to ensure policy continuity. Furthermore, to support local governments’ population policies, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety should provide substantial incentives in its evaluation of local governments for efforts to resolve population issues. Rather than competing to attract population from other regions, it would be even better to provide greater incentives to local governments that strive for mutual growth. I offer a round of applause to all local government heads nationwide as they embark on a new four-year journey.