SEOUL -- Babies born to couples in rural South Korea will be presented with silver bracelets in a bid to reverse a falling birth rate, a report said Monday.

The bracelets worth around 20,000 won (16 U.S. dollars) will be placed around the wrist of a baby if it is born in Yonchon-Gun County in Kyonggi Province, the **** Korea Times **** reported.

They would be a symbol "that the county takes pride in the birth and will be responsible until the baby becomes an adult," Yonchon Municipality spokesman Kim jong-Shik said. "The falling childbirth rate is a serious problem here. More and more people are moving out to the surrounding big cities, including seoul, while less people come in."

The child's name and home phone number will be inscribed on the bracelet, the report said, adding that other financial incentives will also be offered, AFP said.

The population in Yonchon has fallen from 68,144 to 50,803 in the past 20 years, the paper said. Around 600 babies were born locally last year -- a 25 percent drop on the birthrate in the early 1980s.

Authorities in Chungchong Province also recently announced financial incentives for couples to have children.

Mothers there will be given 350,000 won in baby care materials including diapers and nursing bottles.

"Young couples don't want to live in rural areas because they think they have less of a chance to earn a living than city people," said Kim. "They want to move to cities and look for a better educational and cultural environment.