Songpa-gu Provides 200,000 KRW Childbirth Congratulatory Allowance for First Child as Well

Amendment to Birth Encouragement Ordinance: 200,000 KRW for First Child, 400,000 KRW for Second, 500,000 KRW for Third, 1,000,000 KRW for Fourth, and 2,000,000 KRW from Fifth Child Onward Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) will expand the childbirth congratulatory allowance, which was previously supported from the second child onward, to include the first child starting from the new year 2021.

The number of births is decreasing nationwide.

In 2019, the number of births was 303,000, a significant decrease compared to 435,000 in 2014.

Similarly, Songpa-gu recorded 4,424 births in 2019, the highest among Seoul's autonomous districts, but this represents about a 25% decrease over five years from 6,001 births in 2014, showing a continuing downward trend.

Accordingly, the district revised the 'Songpa-gu Childbirth and Childcare Support Ordinance' to provide childbirth congratulatory allowances to families with their first child, celebrating both the birth of new life and the mother.

Previously, the childbirth congratulatory allowance was provided starting from the second child, but from January 1, 2021, it will be expanded to families with their first child as well.

The new support amounts are 200,000 KRW for the first child, 400,000 KRW for the second child, 500,000 KRW for the third child, 1,000,000 KRW for the fourth child, and 2,000,000 KRW from the fifth child onward, establishing support for the first child and increasing support for the second and fifth children.

The previous support amounts were 300,000 KRW for the second child, 500,000 KRW for the third child, and 1,000,000 KRW from the fourth child onward.

The childbirth congratulatory allowance can be applied for at the local community service center within 180 days from the date of birth registration by parents of newborns who have resided in Songpa-gu for more than six months.

Additionally, starting in 2021, the district plans to produce and distribute 'Child on Board' vehicle stickers to families with newborns to enhance child safety.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We have expanded the childbirth congratulatory allowance to celebrate the precious birth of children together,” and added, “We will continue to develop policies that share and support the burden of child-rearing as well as childbirth, making Songpa a great place to raise children.”

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