![Officials from North Gyeongsang Province and Tottori Prefecture pose for a photo at the International Joint Forum on Overcoming Low Birth Rates, held in Tottori Prefecture on Thursday. [North Gyeongsang Province]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/26/news-p.v1.20261026.8e0a9aa8dd10476e81c0336eb9d59b7f_P1.jpg)
North Gyeongsang Province and Japan's Tottori Prefecture have joined forces for the second consecutive year to seek solutions to declining birth rates.
The two regions held the "2026 North Gyeongsang Province–Tottori Prefecture International Joint Forum on Overcoming Low Birth Rates" on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture.
The event came a year after the inaugural forum was held in Andong. North Gyeongsang Province Policy Director Kim Min-seok and Tottori Prefecture Vice Governor Nakahara Miyuki were among those in attendance.
Participants shared case studies on how each region has responded to falling birth rates. A panel discussion followed on the theme of "the marriage, childbirth and child-rearing environment that the younger generation wants." Tottori University Regional Studies Faculty Professor Suzuki Shinichiro, Jung Jae-hoon, president of the North Gyeongsang Happiness Foundation, a representative of newlywed couples from South Korea, and a Japanese university student representative took part to discuss ways to support youth in addressing the low birth rate.
The North Gyeongsang Province delegation also visited two local community facilities during the trip — Kinaru Nanbu, a community hub, and Miraito Hiezu, a multipurpose child-rearing support center — to observe their operations.
"I hope North Gyeongsang Province and Tottori Prefecture will continue to share their experiences and wisdom, and work together to build communities where young people feel hopeful about marriage and having children, and where raising a child is a joy," Kim said.
kbj7653@heraldcorp.com
