Why Did Cha Hyun-il, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Visit a Family of Twins on New Year's Day?

Published 02 Jan.2020 05:53(KST)

Support for childbirth incentives from first to fifth child... Expansion of postpartum care expenses support, infertility treatment expenses support, and operation of Mamdeundun Center

Why Did Cha Hyun-il, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Visit a Family of Twins on New Year's Day?

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Chaehyunil, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, visited local families with multiple children to encourage childbirth and listen to childcare difficulties in the new year of 2020.

The family Mayor Cha visited on the first day of the new year is a family with quadruplets consisting of 4-year-old twins and 1-year-old twins living with their parents.

Following the birth of the first set of twin siblings in 2016, the second set of twin siblings was born in October 2019 and recently celebrated their 100th day this month.

Lee Sujeong (39), the mother of the twins, said, “Our first child was born after 7 years of marriage. The birth of the children itself is a blessing to us as a couple,” adding, “I hope childcare support services such as postpartum helpers who can practically take care of the children will be expanded.”

In response, Mayor Cha said, “We will implement childbirth and childcare policies that can flexibly respond to the diverse care needs of parents,” and “We will build an environment where parents who consider children as blessings can raise their children with peace of mind.”

The district is promoting various projects to create a childbirth and childcare-friendly environment, including △childbirth incentive payments △distribution of childbirth supplies △postpartum care cost support △infertile couple treatment cost support △opening of Momdeundeun Center △public utility fee reductions for multi-child families.

In particular, the district’s childbirth incentive payments are △100,000 KRW for the first child △500,000 KRW for the second child △3 million KRW for the third child △5 million KRW for the fourth child. This applies to children born after January 1, 2018, and applications must be submitted within six months from the date of birth.

Also, from this year, support for infertile couple treatment costs will be significantly expanded. The eligible recipients have been expanded from legally married couples to include common-law couples, and the support scope has increased by 7 treatments from last year to a total of 17 treatments: 7 fresh embryo transfers, 5 frozen embryo transfers, and 5 artificial inseminations. For each treatment, up to 1.1 million KRW for fresh embryos, 500,000 KRW for frozen embryos, and 300,000 KRW for artificial insemination are provided, with differential support depending on the wife’s age and treatment number.

Furthermore, the district opened four ‘Momdeundeun Centers’ for infant and toddler care last year. This is a campaign pledge by Mayor Chaehyunil of Yeongdeungpo District and operates as an open space to flexibly respond to various care needs arising from changes in the childcare environment.

Each facility is equipped with play facilities for infant physical activities such as ‘Tongtong Playground’ and ‘Saenggakjaram Playground,’ a parent community space called ‘Doran Doran Zone,’ and nursing rooms for infants and mothers.

They are located at △Singil 4-dong Childcare Comprehensive Support Center (5, Singil-ro 40-gil) △Yeongdeungpo-dong Community Center (4, Gukhoe-daero 44-gil) △Dangsan 1-dong Toy Library (80, Seonyu-dong 1-ro, District Office Annex) △Dangsan 2-dong Toy Library (9, Dangsan-ro 41ga-gil, 3rd floor of Dangsan 2-dong Community Center), and usage is free of charge.

Mayor Chaehyunil of Yeongdeungpo District said, “A social system that reduces childcare burdens and encourages childbirth is necessary,” and “We will create a childcare-friendly city, Yeongdeungpo, by establishing a dense social care system.”