Dongjak-gu Supports Childcare and Birth Expenses for Single Mothers and Fathers

Last December, groundwork established for Dongjak-gu ordinance supporting single mothers and fathers; first application from second half of this year for Dongjak-gu residents over 6 months ▲Childcare expenses ▲Heating and cooling costs ▲Pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses support

Changwoo Lee, Mayor of Dongjak District

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) will support ▲childcare expenses ▲heating and cooling costs ▲pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses from the second half of this year for unmarried mothers and fathers who directly raise their children, the first such support in Seoul, to alleviate their economic burden and improve the child-rearing environment.

In December last year, the district enacted the "Dongjak-gu Ordinance on Support for Unmarried Mothers and Fathers" to help unmarried parents and their children live healthy and stable lives without social prejudice and discrimination.

The beneficiaries are unmarried mothers and fathers who have been registered residents of Dongjak-gu for more than six months and actually reside there, or residents of Dongjak-gu unmarried mother family welfare facilities, who are eligible for a single-parent family certificate (general single parents with median income 60% or below, adolescent single parents 72% or below).

First, childcare expenses will be paid monthly at 100,000 KRW per child under the age of 5 on the 25th of each month. This can be received in addition to existing child allowance and childcare allowance upon application.

Heating and cooling costs will be supported at 25,000 KRW per month for two months each in winter and summer for unmarried mother households raising children under 5 years old. For this year’s summer season, payments will be made on August 25 and September 25. However, residents of unmarried mother family facilities and those eligible for energy vouchers are excluded.

Pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses of 600,000 KRW will be provided to adolescent mothers aged 19 to 24. After fully using the National Happiness Card voucher and submitting medical receipts, payment will be made upon verification. Applications must be submitted within one year after childbirth.

Unmarried mothers and fathers wishing to participate can visit their local community service center and submit related documents such as ▲application form ▲bankbook copy ▲family relation certificate ▲marriage certificate ▲single-parent family certificate.

For detailed inquiries, contact the Childcare Division of Dongjak-gu Office for guidance.

As of June, there are 962 single-parent families with 2,204 members in the area, consisting of ▲739 mother-child families ▲191 father-child families ▲23 grandparent-child families ▲9 adolescent single-parent families.

In 2015, the district was the first local government nationwide to provide 26 rental housing units for single mother families.

Kim Kyung-ok, head of the Childcare Division, said, “We hope this support will not only reduce the economic burden on unmarried mothers and fathers but also foster social consensus to minimize prejudice. We will continue to do our best to make Dongjak a great place to have and raise children.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.