Seoul Metropolitan Council Proposes Bold Low Birthrate Measures, But Realization Remains...

Seoul Metropolitan Council Explores Removing Income Criteria for Low Birthrate
Legislative and Financial Support Needed... Balancing with Government Policy
Expansion of Child Allowance Eligibility May Overlap with Government Support

The Seoul Metropolitan Council has proposed a groundbreaking measure to eliminate income criteria from all low birthrate countermeasures in Seoul, but doubts are being raised about its feasibility. The plan aims to raise the low birthrate by removing income criteria for public rental housing and housing cost support, but all of these require legislation or financial support.

On the 24th, a Seoul city official commented on the 'Seoul-type Low Birthrate Overcoming Model' announced the previous day by Kim Hyun-gi, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, saying, "We agree with the intention that the low birthrate issue is an important matter that should be addressed not only by Seoul but also at the national level, requiring diverse discussions," but added, "However, there are aspects that need to be examined in detail and approached carefully."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The low birthrate measures announced by Chairman Kim the previous day include ▲removal of income criteria related to low birthrate policies ▲priority allocation of 4,000 public rental housing units annually to newlyweds and households expecting a child or with a child born within one year ▲extension of child allowance payments from ages 0-8 to up to 18 years old. The intention is to eliminate barriers to solving housing problems, which are considered a main cause of the declining birthrate.

However, all of the measures proposed by Chairman Kim require accompanying legislation or additional financial support. The council plans to initially provide support using city funds and then request the central government to relax income criteria in higher-level laws such as the 'Special Act on Public Housing,' but it is difficult for the National Assembly to handle such amendments, and balance with the government's low birthrate policy stance is also necessary. During last year's amendment of the 'Special Act on Public Housing' to ease income and asset requirements, there was considerable opposition from existing large families with three or more children.

The 2,000 housing units that Seoul claims can be supplied solely through city financial support without amending higher-level laws are also difficult to adjust flexibly. Both Seoul city and the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) plan annual supply volumes based on demand and supply, so there is a risk that scheduled waiting demand could be disadvantaged.

The expansion of child allowance recipients is similar. Currently, the maximum support amount provided by the government and Seoul city during the 0-8 year life cycle is about 86 million KRW, but operating according to the council's policy is estimated to require support exceeding 100 million KRW. This raises concerns about overlapping policies promoted by the government, local governments, and autonomous districts. Another Seoul city official also stated, "This is not simply a budget-related issue but also requires consideration of balance with related welfare policies," adding, "We plan to carefully review and examine any specific proposals from the council."

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