Local autonomous councils facing a serious population decrease are trying to encourage women to have more children. On January 2, the county magistrate of Cheongwon in Chungbuk Province paid a visit to Baik Eun-seok, who had just given birth to a baby boy the day before. Armed with toys, clothes, and bedding worth W350,000, his visit cut the tape for the county's first childbirth promotion plan. Pregnant mothers who work on farm, will also be given W650,000.

According to research in the county, the number of newborns fell from 1,800 in 1999 to 1,300 last year due to aging, contraception, and a rural exodus. "It is because the young generation moves to the cities for their jobs or children's education," said Oh Yong-kil, director of a public health center in Cheongwon. "We are planning services for pregnant mothers and newborns such as free regular health examinations and vaccines."

The population of Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province decreased from 68,144 in 1982 to 50,372 last December. Beginning this year, the county gives newborns a W20,000 silver bracelet in order to promote childbirth. The number of newborns has dropped from 800 to 600 in the past five years.

Jeonnam Province, one of the largest farming districts has also suffered a population decrease. Since 2001, women in the farming and fishing regions received W100,000 to help cover childbirth expenses; this year, it has doubled to W200,000. In Gwanju next month, they will elect the first "Queen of Productivity" among women ages 20 to 45 and give awards. First place is a three-day trip for two to Jeju Island and second and third place get gift certificates of W300,000 and W200,000, respectively. Cheongdo in Gyeongbuk gives W50,000 won for childbirth and W100,000 for moving into the area.

(Ryu Tae-jong, youh@chosun.com )