Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, said Thursday it received the "Corporate Attraction Innovation Award" in recognition of its record-breaking investment results and efforts to reverse population decline and revive the local economy.
The city received the award Wednesday at the Korea Press Center in Seoul during the "Korea Local Preservation Awards," co-hosted by News1 and the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.
The awards are presented to outstanding local governments and institutions that have taken proactive steps to address the low birth rate and the threat of regional depopulation, achieving measurable results in resolving population challenges and stimulating local economies.
The city's most notable achievement has been its investment attraction record. During the eighth elected-term administration, Gumi attracted a total of 16.16 trillion won ($11.9 billion) from more than 1,140 companies, creating 12,346 jobs.
The improvement in economic indicators has translated directly into population recovery — the most pressing issue facing local governments across the country. The annual population decline, which stood at 4,471 in 2022, fell to 937 last year, a reduction of roughly four-fifths.
"We will continue building a virtuous cycle in which the fruits of corporate attraction permeate job creation, youth inflow and the neighborhood economy, making Gumi the No. 1 role model for overcoming regional depopulation," Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho said.
kbj7653@heraldcorp.com
