‘Child-Friendly’ Changwon City Announces Various Childcare Policies

Changwon City Hall. [Image source=Changwon City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, has prepared various projects to reduce the economic burden on families with newborns and to welcome children happily.

According to the city on the 4th, the "First Meeting Voucher" has been provided for children born since January 1st.

The voucher is a government-led project aimed at alleviating the financial burden of early childhood care. Each newborn child receives a 2 million KRW voucher in the form of National Happiness Card points, which can be applied for at the local administrative welfare centers in the registered residential area or online (Bokjiro, Government24).

The voucher can be used for one year from the child's date of birth. Any unused points will automatically expire after the usage period ends. However, since the first issuance of the voucher started on April 1st, children born between January and March can exceptionally use it until March 31, 2023.

There is no set application period, but considering the usage period, applications should be made before the end of the usage period. Payment decisions are made within 30 days from the application date, and since time is needed to receive a new National Happiness Card, applications should be submitted well before the usage end date.

If the National Happiness Card has already been issued for pregnancy and childbirth medical expense support, a new card issuance is not necessary.

Separately, the city provides childbirth congratulatory money: 500,000 KRW for the first child and 2 million KRW for the second child and beyond (1 million KRW at birth and 1 million KRW after one year).

This support is given to families who have been continuously registered residents and actually residing in the jurisdiction from three months before the birth date to the application date. If the residence period is less than three months, support is possible after continuous residence for more than three months. Additionally, a baby allowance of 300,000 KRW is provided for infants aged 0 to 23 months.

Other initiatives include the "Newlywed Book Dream Project," "Hospital Childcare Service," "Support for Vasectomy and Tubal Reversal Surgery Costs," designation of "Baby Love Restaurants," and the establishment of the "Hello Our Baby" corner in the Changwon City Newsletter to celebrate the birth of babies with citizens.

Lee Sun-hee, Director of the Welfare, Women, and Health Bureau, said, "We hope that families with newborns will happily welcome their babies in Changwon Special City, a city that is good for raising children and where people want to raise children, by receiving various childbirth supports such as the First Meeting Voucher, childbirth congratulatory money, and baby allowance."

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