Reasons for Proposal
Amid the persistent decline in the population of rural communities in Korea, the working-age population continues to shrink, and the resulting demographic cliff shock and the danger of local area extinction are gaining speed. As of May last year, 93 out of 228 Si/Gun/Gu nationwide were in danger of extinction, and the number has increased to 105 this year, accounting for nearly half of the total Si/Gun/Gu.
Although various balanced regional development policies have been implemented on the basis of balanced national development to address this issue, more substantial and fundamental measures are required as the areas in danger of extinction are on the rise and no clear improvement has been demonstrated.
In response, the enactment of the Act on Support for Local Areas in Danger of Extinction aims to effectively combat the extinction of local areas caused by population decline, enhance the self-sufficiency of local communities, and improve the residential condition and living base of the areas in danger of extinction, thereby contributing to the revitalization of regional economies and balanced regional development.
Details
A. Aim to contribute to the revitalization of regional economies and balanced regional development by improving the residential condition and living base of residents via support for areas in danger of extinction (Article 1).
B. Require the Minister of the Interior and Safety to designate the areas in danger of economic slump and extinction due to population decline as local areas in danger of extinction (Article 6).
C. Require the Minister of the Interior and Safety to devise a master plan to provide support for local areas in danger extinction every five years so as to improve the residential and living conditions, and raise the quality of living for residents in local areas in danger extinction (Article 7).
D. Require the establishment of a presidential development committee for local areas in danger extinction to provide support for local areas in danger extinction (Article 11).
E. Allow the head of a Si/Gun to establish a migrant support center to provide support for persons who wish to migrate or have migrated to the corresponding area (Article 14).
F. Allow the State and local governments to provide priority support for the establishment, maintenance, and repair of infrastructure in local areas in danger extinction (Article 18).
G. Prescribe exceptions to the issuance of visas and the period of sojourn for foreign nationals who intend to work in workplaces located within the areas in danger of extinction (Article 21).
H. Allow the Mayor/Do Governor to establish and operate a job support center for youth to provide support for work necessary for the employment of unemployed young adults, the provision of information required for business establishment in the areas in danger of extinction, etc. (Article 22).
I. Establish a special committee for educational administration to work in collaboration and handle administrative affairs in connection with education, art, and science through association between the local governments and the educational authorities (Article 27).
J. Require the State and local governments to preferentially establish support centers for childcare to provide infant childcare support for the areas in danger of extinction, and preferentially establish national and public daycare centers or enforce other necessary related measures (Article 28).
K. Establish a special account to support local areas in danger extinction (hereinafter referred to as "special account") to facilitate financial support by the State for local areas in danger extinction (Article 30).
