Daejeon's population continued to grow in March, marking the second consecutive monthly increase and underscoring the city's momentum as a growing metropolitan center.
The city's registered population stood at 1,441,779 as of the end of March, up 374 from the end of February, Daejeon Metropolitan City said Thursday. Following an increase of 855 in February, the city has added a total of 1,050 residents so far this year. The figure represents a gain of 2,622 from the end of 2024.
An analysis of population movement during the first quarter showed that 27,703 people moved into Daejeon, exceeding the 26,589 who left, resulting in a net inflow of 1,114.
The largest net inflows came from North Jeolla Province (384), North Gyeongsang Province (349), South Chungcheong Province (313) and Daegu (244). Some net outflow occurred toward the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
The data reinforced Daejeon's status as a "central region hub city," drawing residents from the Chungcheong and Yeongnam-Honam regions, analysts said.
The top reasons cited by those moving to Daejeon were employment (34.16%) and education (24.58%). The figures reflect positive perceptions among residents of other regions toward Daejeon's job creation and educational environment.
Notably, people in their 20s accounted for 43.19% of all new arrivals and those in their 30s for 16.63%, with the two age groups making up 59.82% of total inbound migration. The trend demonstrates that Daejeon is transforming into a dynamic city favored by younger generations.
A closer look at March's population growth shows that beyond migration, births (843) slightly outnumbered deaths (814), producing a natural increase of 29. This is considered an encouraging indicator amid the nation's low birth rate and aging population crisis.
"Two consecutive months of population growth, particularly the notable net inflow of young people, is a very meaningful result in terms of the city's future competitiveness," said Jeon Jae-hyeon, director general of Daejeon's Bureau of Public Administration and Autonomy. "We will continue to concentrate administrative efforts on creating quality jobs and improving living conditions to build 'a livable Daejeon, a first-class economic city.'"
