Issue Joint Korea-Japan responses to local extinction through policy, youth and digital cooperation

Summary

Because both countries face similar demographic crises of low fertility, ageing and local extinction, the report sees strong need and potential for cooperation, and argues that preparing for 2050 calls for a society-wide structural response rather than simple measures to raise the birth rate. First, it proposes exchanging local extinction policies and holding joint forums, sharing experience through joint symposia or memoranda between local governments, since Korea has drawn many lessons from Japan's earlier experience. Second, as young people in the regions decline sharply, local universities and local governments could run youth internship and start-up support programs, such as a Korea-Japan youth local start-up camp, to encourage mutual inflows. Third, it suggests linking Japan's Digital Garden City initiative, pursued since 2022, with Korea's smart city and digital platform government plans through joint research and private participation in ICT-based telemedicine and smart farming. Finally, joint culture and tourism projects, revitalized sister-city ties between depopulating areas and linked tourism products could revive regions and expand the living or relational population between the two countries.