Gangwon-do to Increase 'Childcare and Child Allowances' and Expand 'Eligible Recipients'

90,000 Won Per Month for Newborns This Year... Establishment of 'First Meeting Voucher'

Gangwon Provincial Government

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] Gangwon Province will raise the basic childcare allowance from 400,000 KRW to 500,000 KRW per month this year and expand various child-related allowances and their eligibility.

For children aged 0 to 1 born after January 1 of this year, the province will integrate the existing home care allowance and childcare fee support into an "Infant Allowance" and provide a "First Meeting Voucher" worth 2 million KRW.

The current monthly child allowance of 100,000 KRW will also be extended from children under 7 years old to those under 8 years old.

The basic childcare allowance will be paid up to 500,000 KRW per month for a maximum of 4 years (up to 48 months) if either the father or mother has resided in the province for more than one year, based on children born after January 1, 2019.

Children who have previously received support must reapply annually, one month before the birth month.

The "Infant Allowance" provides 300,000 KRW per month in cash if the infant aged 0 to 1 born after January 1 of this year is raised at home without using daycare, or as childcare fees if daycare is used.

The province plans to gradually increase the support amount to 350,000 KRW in 2023, 400,000 KRW in 2024, and 500,000 KRW in 2025.

The "First Meeting Voucher" will be provided as points worth 2 million KRW on the guardian’s National Happiness Card. It can be used for one year from the birth date at all businesses except entertainment, gambling, and leisure industries.

However, according to related law amendments, payments will start from April this year, and children born between January and March must apply in advance from January to receive support starting in April.

With the expansion of the child allowance eligibility from under 7 to under 8 years old starting this year, children who stopped receiving the allowance by July last year can receive it until July this year. Retroactive payments for January to March will be made from April according to the birth month.

Park Dong-joo, Director of the Health, Welfare and Women’s Bureau, said, "We expect that the increase in the basic childcare allowance, the introduction of the Infant Allowance and First Meeting Voucher, and the expansion of the child allowance age will create an environment where all children in the province can grow up healthily and reduce the economic burden on parents."

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