Dongdaemun-gu Provides 300,000 Won Support for First Childbirth Starting This Year

Publication of Dongdaemun-gu's '2020 Changes' Leaflet Covering Expanded Childbirth Support and Enrollment Celebration Grants, Infant Snack Support, Increased Veterans' Allowances, and 27 Other Changes This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) has produced a leaflet titled ‘2020 Changes Like This’ to widely inform residents about changes in district administration and government policies in the Year of the Rat 2020.

The leaflet, designed to be easily viewed at a glance, includes 27 changed systems across five areas: ▲Welfare ▲Education & Environment ▲Health ▲Economy ▲Safety & Administration.

◇Welfare

Notable points in the welfare sector include the expansion of childbirth support funds and daycare center support. Dongdaemun-gu increased the childbirth support fund for the first child from 100,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW.

Additionally, the congratulatory entrance allowance for the third child and beyond entering elementary school was increased from 100,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW, and starting this year, support of 500,000 KRW for middle school entrance and 1,000,000 KRW for high school entrance is provided.

Daycare centers receive a monthly snack allowance of 10,000 KRW per child aged 3 to 5, and childcare staff are given holiday allowances of 50,000 KRW each for Lunar New Year and Chuseok. The functional reinforcement fund for private and home daycare centers has also been expanded from 10 million KRW annually to 30 million KRW annually.

The national merit veterans’ honor allowance is increased from 20,000 KRW per month to 30,000 KRW per month.

◇Education & Environment

Free education, previously supported only for 3rd-year high school students, is now extended to include 2nd-year high school students. Thus, 2nd and 3rd-year high school students will receive support for entrance fees, tuition, school operation support fees, and textbook costs. However, private schools where the principal sets entrance and tuition fees, high technical schools not recognized for high school graduation, and various other schools are excluded.

Eco-friendly free meals, previously supported only for elementary, middle, and 3rd-year high school students, are now extended to 2nd-year high school students as well.

Large waste disposal reports can now also be conveniently made via mobile phones (ecopass.ddm.go.kr).

◇Health

Support for infertility treatment costs has been adjusted from 3 artificial inseminations, 4 fresh embryo transfers, and 3 frozen embryo transfers to differential support for 5 artificial inseminations, 7 fresh embryo transfers, and 5 frozen embryo transfers.

◇Economy

The minimum distance between tobacco retail stores has been changed from 50 meters to 100 meters. A mobile local currency called Dongdaemun-gu Sarang Gift Certificate, usable at Zero Pay affiliated stores within the district, will be issued. Each person can purchase up to 500,000 KRW per month, with a 7% discount rate on the gift certificate purchase amount. Until the total consumption across all Seoul districts reaches 30 billion KRW, a 10% discount on the gift certificate purchase amount will be applied.

◇Safety & Administration

For vehicles over 10 years old, when scrapped and a new car is purchased, a temporary 70% reduction (up to 1 million KRW) of the individual consumption tax will be applied for six months.

Personal local income tax, previously reported at tax offices, will be reported to the relevant local government starting this year.

The maximum weight of electric kickboards and other electric boards is limited to 30 kg, and the installation of lighting devices such as headlights, tail lights, reflectors, and horns is mandatory. The full revised product safety standards can be found on the National Institute of Technology and Standards website and the Ministry of Government Legislation’s legal information center.

The district will place the ‘2020 Changes Like This’ leaflet at the district office’s comprehensive civil service center and Dong community centers, and also post it on the district office website so that any resident can easily access it.

Mayor You Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu stated, “This year, we have introduced and revised various policies to improve the quality of life for residents,” and added, “We hope residents will not miss out on the information about policies implemented in 2020 through this leaflet and make good use of it.”