Lee Jung-ok, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, "We will support the practical independence of single mother-child families"

Visit to Welfare Facilities for Single-Parent Families
Meeting Scheduled with Workers and Single Mothers' Organizations

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Seoul Situation Center of the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in the Government Seoul Office Building on August 12. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Following a series of incidents including infant adoption posts in Jeju and a fire accident involving siblings in Incheon, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is preparing practical measures to support the lives of single mother families.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok announced that on the 22nd at 10 a.m., she will visit the Salvation Army Duri Home, a welfare facility for single mother families located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to hold a meeting with workers and related parties such as single mother organizations.

According to the Single-Parent Family Survey (2018), the average monthly income of single-parent households nationwide is about 57% of that of all households, indicating that single-parent families face difficulties due to economic burdens and social prejudice and discrimination. In particular, concerns have been raised that single-parent families, who must simultaneously bear the responsibilities of livelihood, housework, and child-rearing alone due to the prolonged impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), may be pushed into even more difficult situations.

Based on the results of this meeting, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to strengthen support so that single mother families can become self-reliant in practice and to prepare social awareness improvement measures to prevent discrimination and prejudice in daily life. So far, the government has provided welfare facilities for single mother families to enable them to raise children while pursuing studies and vocational training, and has conducted childbirth and childcare support, counseling, and linkage with related organizations at 17 single mother base institutions nationwide.

Minister Lee said, "The recent infant adoption post case shows that single mothers are institutionally vulnerable in our society and that those facing difficulties find it hard to overcome the threshold for policy support," adding, "We will do our best to review policies and prepare meticulous and sophisticated policies so that single-parent families can live with dignity without discrimination in their daily lives."

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