Seocho-gu, Why Is It Providing Up to 55 Million KRW Over 5 Years to 18-Year-Olds Aging Out of Care?

?Self-Settlement Fund: 5 million KRW per year, paid in installments over 5 years (up to 25 million KRW)?Living Allowance: 300,000 KRW once a month, paid up to 5 years after protection ends (up to 18 million KRW)?Education Expenses: University tuition and self-development costs (up to 12 million KRW)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “If there had been adults for protection-terminated children who must stand on their own at age 18...”

Areum (pseudonym), who lives in Bangbae-dong, spent her childhood in a group home facility. Due to parents who were unable to take care of her, she entered the facility feeling very withdrawn, but under the loving care of the nuns, Areum graduated from high school just like any other child.

However, upon graduating high school, children who must leave the facility and stand on their own face unfamiliar situations such as finding a one-room apartment, looking for a job, opening a bank account, and paying utility bills by themselves. For Areum, who is barely 18 years old, becoming an adult alone is extremely difficult and frightening.

Child Welfare Act Article 3 (Definition): “Child” means a person under the age of 18.

Children who cannot be raised by their parents due to abuse or financial problems grow up under child welfare facilities or foster care and reach the point where they must stand on their own upon graduating high school. They receive existing support such as LH’s jeonse deposit loans, 5 million KRW for self-reliance settlement funds, and a monthly self-reliance allowance of 300,000 KRW for three years, but this is far from sufficient for independence.

“Seocho-gu’s Thorough Care for Protection-Terminated Children”

Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) plans to provide comprehensive support including mentoring and up to 55 million KRW in financial aid over five years so that protection-terminated children who must stand on their own at age 18 can become stable and healthy young adults in society.

In addition to the existing support funds, an extra monthly living expense of 300,000 KRW will be provided to help with attending university or preparing for employment, along with up to 3 million KRW annually for education expenses to assist them in finding their desired careers and focusing on their futures.

Moreover, an annual self-reliance settlement fund of 5 million KRW will be provided to prepare for unforeseen uncertain situations such as hospital bills, home repairs, additional certification acquisition, and living expenses.

Furthermore, the support period has been set to the legal maximum of five years. This reflects the opinion of the Child Rights Guarantee Institute that while various supports immediately after leaving the facility make living possible, support tends to decrease two to three years after leaving, causing difficulties.

Beyond financial support, one-on-one customized counseling with self-reliance experts will reflect individual characteristics and needs, covering detailed plans for using self-reliance funds, necessary certifications to achieve dreams, methods for managing assets after employment, precautions when signing housing contracts, various life tips, economic education, and psychological support.

For subsequent year support, based on one year of self-reliance consulting, the execution results of the planned goals will be reviewed to check whether the self-reliance funds were used appropriately before deciding on further support, ensuring meticulous follow-up management.

Additionally, the ‘Seoripul Didimdol Self-Reliance Support Group,’ composed of related experts and seniors who have successfully become independent after protection termination, will be formed to provide advice on support directions and mentoring for self-reliant children.

In this way, the plan is to provide thorough care so that children can pursue dreams they have wanted to achieve but were afraid to start alone or burdened by the weight of life.

“Young Adults Growing Their Dreams through Seocho-Style Self-Reliance Support”

Children who received the application notice for ‘Seocho-Style Self-Reliance Support’ could not hide their joy.

Seori (pseudonym), who graduated from a prestigious university this year and is currently a youth intern at a public enterprise, is preparing for the public enterprise’s open recruitment in the first half of next year but was struggling to afford academy fees for English qualification exams. She breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the good news. Ayoung (pseudonym), who lives with her grandmother and younger sibling, had planned to urgently find a job to cover living expenses but decided to register for a certification academy instead.

Jimyeong (pseudonym), who had no particular thoughts about career paths, gradually began to consider what she wanted to do through continuous emotional support (the counselor saying “Let’s try once,” “It’s okay to fail,” “Trying is a great thing!”). She now asks the counselor real-time questions about academies and educational courses via mobile messenger and has started dreaming about her future little by little.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Cho said, “We will provide various supports so that young adults taking their first steps into society can grow their dreams while doing what they want, making them feel ‘I can do this’ and ‘I am not alone.’” She expressed her attachment and determination toward the ‘Seocho-Style Self-Reliance Support Policy,’ saying, “We will continue to consider better support so that protection-terminated children can become more stable and successfully independent.”

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