Governors' association highlights regional development as key to combating population decline

Mayors and governors of Korea pose during a conference, organized by the Governors Association of Korea, to discuss the nation's declining population and rural extinction by highlighting the importance of local governments' role at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Tuesday. From left are South Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Tae-heum, North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyum, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Park Wan-soo, North Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Young-hwan, North Jeolla Province Gov. Kim Kwan-young and Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City

Mayors and governors of 17 cities and provinces nationwide convened, Tuesday, for a meeting organized by the Governors Association of Korea (GAOK) to discuss strategies aimed at tackling the nation’s declining population and the growing threat of rural extinction.

Local government leaders underscored the importance of regional development as a driving force for national progress, calling for greater autonomy and expanded rights for local administrations.

Under the theme "Korea's Future Finds Answers in the Regions," leaders from metropolitan and provincial governments gathered to share policies and initiatives, exploring joint solutions to tackle the nation’s pressing demographic and regional challenges.

The conference, modeled after the annual general meeting of the United States National Governors Association, marked the first such gathering since the establishment of the GAOK.

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, chair of GAOK, emphasized that addressing issues like economic and social disparities caused by the concentration in metropolitan areas, including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, requires a regional approach.

"The key to resolving various problems, including regional economic and social imbalances, lies within the regions themselves," Park said.

"We hope today’s conference will mark a significant step toward local autonomy and balanced regional development, fostering stronger cooperation between central and local governments."

The conference was attended by 12 city and provincial governors, delivering speeches addressing responses to population decline, local economic challenges and regional policy initiatives.

South Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Tae-heum stressed that childbirth and child-rearing should not be seen solely as personal matters, but as responsibilities that the nation must share.

"The province is making significant efforts to support young families by providing housing and introducing policies like a four-day workweek for parents of young children in the provincial government," Kim said.

He also urged the central government to consider recognizing unmarried cohabiting couples as a family unit, similar to a policy in France.

"Some couples want to raise children but feel burdened by the traditional marriage system," he said.

"It's time to recognize diverse family structures to address the nation’s population decline."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon outlined the city's policies on housing and education support, highlighting them as key areas in addressing the declining birthrate.

"Housing costs and education expenses are consistently cited as the two biggest factors discouraging people from having children," he said.

He also called on the central government to grant more autonomy to local governments, arguing that decentralization would enable more effective policy implementation.

"Aside from diplomacy, military and security, local governments should have greater authority, including the power to enact laws and set budgets," Oh said.

The GAOK also issued a joint statement outlining strategies to address three of the nation’s most pressing challenges: the low birthrate and aging population, the worsening threat of rural extinction and regional economic contraction. All 17 city and provincial governors signed the declaration.

The association highlighted the growing crisis of regional economic decline and rural depopulation, driven by the outflow of young people from rural areas.

To address these issues, the local government leaders agreed to commit to strengthening local autonomy and fostering closer cooperation between the central and local governments.