South Jeolla Province is pursuing region-specific models that reflect local natural environments and conditions to expand its living population. The initiative focuses on responding to the regional extinction crisis accelerated by low birth rates, aging populations and concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, while spreading a new population policy model centered on stays, relationships and repeat visits.
The provincial government announced Tuesday that it has selected five cities and counties for its "2026 Living Population Expansion Project" after conducting an open call targeting 22 cities and counties, followed by document and presentation reviews. Total project funding amounts to 360 million won, with 108 million won from the provincial government and 252 million won from city and county budgets.
The selected projects are: Mokpo City's "Run Trip: Half-Price Travel While Running"; Gurye County's "4-STEP Living Stay for Urban-to-Rural Migration, from Inflow to Settlement"; Gangjin County's "Gangjin Pum-Ae (Love) Sara-bolrae (Live Here)"; Muan County's "Muan Hwangto Getbeol Land Living Population Expansion Project"; and Jindo County's "Just Get Out to Jindo Once! (One Night, Two Days in Jindo)."
Project types were designed in diverse ways to match regional characteristics. Mokpo City aims to attract younger demographics through stay-oriented content combining tourism and sports, while Gurye County operates a step-by-step program linking rural migration experiences with local settlement.
Through these projects, South Jeolla Province plans to build a virtuous cycle for living populations that goes beyond simple tourism, leading to longer regional stays, increased consumption, relationship-building with residents and communities, and ultimately repeat visits and permanent settlement.
"Living populations are not simply visitors but a core axis of regional vitality, forming relationships with the area and being drawn back to it," said Yoon Yeon-hwa, director-general of South Jeolla's Population, Youth and Immigration Bureau. "We will continue to expand stay-based and relationship-based population policies in connection with the integrated South Jeolla-Gwangju living zone, and spread outstanding models to all cities and counties."
