200,000 KRW 'First Meeting Voucher' to be Provided for Children Born Next Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Starting next year, newborn children will be eligible to receive a 2 million won 'First Meeting Voucher.'

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 30th that it has prepared a revision of the enforcement decree in accordance with the amendment of the 'Framework Act on Low Birthrate and Aging Society' and will collect opinions until the 14th of next month.

Due to the amendment, newborn children or their guardians from next year will receive the First Meeting Voucher. The Ministry revised the enforcement decree to allow the guardian or proxy of the newborn child to apply for the voucher at the resident center of the child's registered address in the relevant eup, myeon, or dong.

When the next-generation system is launched around April next year, applications will be possible at resident centers nationwide, not limited to the child's address. Applicants must submit documents such as an ID card, family relation certificate, and power of attorney.

Each local government will decide whether to provide the voucher within 30 days of receiving the application and will issue the voucher through the applicant's credit card, debit card, or dedicated card. For children under the care of child welfare facilities, the voucher will be paid in cash to an account in the child's name.

Since the voucher is intended to support the purchase of necessary items in the early stages after birth, the usage period is limited to one year from the date of birth. Any remaining balance after the expiration will be forfeited.

The enforcement decree will take effect in April next year, and for children born from January to March next year, the usage period of the voucher will be calculated starting from April 1 of next year.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare also prepared amendments to subordinate laws of the 'Child Allowance Act' and the 'Infant Care Act.' The amendment to the enforcement decree of the Child Allowance Act allows applications for child allowance at resident centers other than the applicant's address. The amendment to the Infant Care Act enforcement decree revises regulations to reduce the infant allowance amount from the free childcare cost support when infant allowance recipients use childcare facilities.

Opinions on the amendments can be submitted by mail or fax to the Ministry's Birth Policy Division, Child Welfare Policy Division, and Childcare Project Planning Division by the 14th of next month.

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