Nowon-gu Implements Birth Promotion Policies Including Baby ID Cards and Birth Celebration Grants

Starting July this year, expanded childbirth congratulatory funds up to the first child... Baby Welcome Clean House with professional disinfection and pest control services... Free issuance of baby ID cards engraved with basic baby information and messages from parents... Support for newborn naming, stroller rental, and movie tickets...

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is implementing various district-level policies to encourage childbirth.

First, the amount of childbirth congratulatory support has been increased. From July this year, the target has been expanded to include the first child. 100,000 KRW is given for the first child, 200,000 KRW for the second child, 500,000 KRW for the third child, and 1,000,000 KRW from the fourth child onward. Applicants must be registered residents of Nowon-gu and have lived there for more than three months. Applications must be submitted to the local community service center within one year of the child's birth. However, the support does not apply retroactively to first children born before July 2020.

The ‘Baby Welcome Clean House’ project, the first of its kind nationwide, is also a unique initiative. Parents of families with a second child or more who have allergic diseases can apply. A professional pest control company visits the home to provide services such as house dust mite treatment, furniture and household item sterilization, and pest control support.

The Baby ID Card project is also popular. It targets newborns within three months of birth who are registered residents. The guardian (father or mother) can apply by visiting the local community service center with one photo. If they want to use a photo stored on their phone, no separate photo is required. The ID card is made of PVC and is the same size as a resident registration card (8.5cm × 5.4cm). The front side includes the photo and address, while the back side contains the baby’s prenatal name, birth time, weight, blood type, and messages parents wish to convey to the child.

Although the Baby ID card does not have the same legal effect as a resident registration card, parents see it as a commemorative item for the birth, and the child can easily check their prenatal name and birth details later. On average, about 20 applications are submitted monthly, indicating high satisfaction.

Various programs are also underway for low-income and multicultural families, including those with multiple children. The ‘Free Newborn Naming Corner’ offers naming and name interpretation by a fortune-telling expert based on the Four Pillars of Destiny. It is available to multi-child families (second child or more), basic livelihood security recipients, disabled persons, and multicultural families residing in Nowon-gu. Screening fees for congenital metabolic disorders (outpatient tests) are also supported for families with two or more children regardless of income level.

A free stroller rental service is also provided. Vulnerable families with children under 36 months can rent strollers for six months through the Nowon-gu Childcare Support Center and the Healthy Family Support Center.

Additionally, to expand cultural and artistic opportunities for multi-child families, households raising three or more children under 20 years old who have lived in Nowon-gu for more than three months receive movie tickets equal to the number of family members.

Furthermore, since 2017, an ordinance supporting single mothers and fathers has been enacted, providing heating and cooling cost support. The target includes low-income single-parent households and single mothers before childbirth, with support of 25,000 KRW per session, up to four times a year, totaling up to 1,000,000 KRW. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Women and Family Division of Nowon-gu Office.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok stated, “We will continue to actively discover unique and diverse policies in Nowon-gu that can complement the government and Seoul city’s low birthrate measures.”

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