Kim Dong-yeon: "Government's ultra-low birth rate policy is deeply disappointing...I will find solutions on the ground"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Noh-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon voiced his position on ultra-low birth rate countermeasures.

On the 29th, Governor Kim expressed through SNS that facing an ultra-low birth rate population crisis with a "total fertility rate of 0.78," the policies disclosed by the government are "deeply disappointing" and criticized them as "warmed-over, recycled, and empty policies with no boldness to break existing frameworks, nor any effectiveness that gives hope for the future."

He added that "Gyeonggi Province is seeking low birth rate countermeasures from the ground level" and mentioned a forum with 100 young people held recently.

He continued, "Today I held discussions with approximately 400 people including public institution employees. Like the previous forum, it was a valuable opportunity to listen to diverse opinions. Going forward, I will find answers together with the residents of Gyeonggi Province."

Below is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<Comprehensive Low Birth Rate Countermeasures, 'Armchair Theory' and 'Real Problems Require Real Solutions'>

Facing an ultra-low birth rate population crisis with a "total fertility rate of 0.78," I find the policies disclosed by the government deeply disappointing. These are warmed-over, recycled, and empty policies—I can find no boldness to break existing frameworks, nor any effectiveness that gives hope for the future.

The president said that despite pouring 280 trillion won over the past 15 years, the situation has worsened. But I wonder if he realizes that a substantial portion of that budget was essentially just repackaged and labeled as "low birth rate countermeasures."

While the 'Committee on Low Birth Rate and Aging Society' has outstanding members, they are not people directly experiencing these issues. Scholars, experts, and administrators are not stakeholders in childbirth and childcare issues. They may have read many books and possess theoretical knowledge, but few have truly listened to the authentic voices from the field.

There is a saying called 'Real problems require real solutions.'

I interpret it as: <'Our' 'Problems' have their 'Answers' in the 'Field'>. Change that breaks through taboos begins from the ground level. Gyeonggi Province is seeking low birth rate countermeasures from the field.

Recently, I held discussions with about 100 young people who are stakeholders in these policies. The young people spoke of their struggles and their proposed solutions, their eyes welling with tears. All of us executives attending the forum, including myself, were deeply moved.

Today I held discussions with approximately 400 people including public institution employees. Like the previous forum, it was a valuable opportunity to listen to diverse opinions. Going forward, I will find answers together with the residents of Gyeonggi Province.

Problems can only be solved when we feel them with our hearts, act with our feet, and put them into practice.