Jeongseon County's population has rebounded for the first time in 14 years, as a marriage incentive program combined with a rural basic income has accelerated young people's settlement in the region.
From January to April this year, a total of 34 households applied for the marriage incentive, with payments reaching 68 million won, Jeongseon County said Tuesday. Under the program, couples receive 2 million won immediately after registering their marriage, followed by an additional 2 million won after one year and 1 million won after two years, totaling 5 million won over three years.
As the application and payment procedures have stabilized, a steady stream of applications has continued each month. Notably, the marriage incentive is producing a synergistic effect when combined with the rural basic income, the first such program launched in Gangwon Province.
The marriage incentive covers initial settlement costs, while the monthly 150,000 won rural basic income supplements ongoing living expenses, significantly enhancing the region's appeal for young residents, officials said.
The marriage incentive, paid in local currency, is also directly benefiting the local economy. As residents' spending circulates within the region, small business owners are seeing improved sales.
Jeongseon County's population rebound is clear in the numbers. Last year, the county's population reached 34,875, up 1,364, or 4.07 percent, from 33,515 in 2024. It ranked first among Gangwon Province's 18 cities and counties in both the scale and rate of population growth.
More significantly, Jeongseon's population had declined for 14 consecutive years from 2011 through 2024. The county, classified as an area at risk of regional extinction amid the decline of its mining industry, has reached a turning point in its population recovery. The population increase was particularly pronounced in the fourth quarter of last year, with the selection of the rural basic income pilot project appearing to have a direct impact.
In October and November alone last year, Jeongseon County's population grew by a remarkable 1,191 people. Following an increase of 343 in October, November saw a gain of 848, marking growth rarely seen in recent decades. While gains in even one or two areas are typically considered positive news, all nine towns and townships in the county saw simultaneous population growth, demonstrating the broad impact of the policy.
Jeongseon County views marriage as an important starting point in life and plans to continue expanding life-cycle support policies that connect marriage to childbirth and child-rearing. The strategy aims to create a virtuous cycle in which the marriage incentive eases initial cost burdens while the basic income and welfare benefits reduce child-rearing burdens.
"The policy is designed to deliver tangible benefits to young people who hope to marry and settle down," a county official said. "We hope the policy can contribute to turning the structural crisis of population decline into an opportunity."
