High Satisfaction with Convenience of Point Usage (93.1%) and Speed of Processing Time (90.9%)
Preferred Usage: Private Car Fuel 56.6%, Taxi 35.7%, Bus/Subway 8.2%
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Since its implementation in July, the transportation expense support program for pregnant women has received satisfaction responses from 9 out of 10 Seoul citizens.
According to Seoul City on the 7th, a satisfaction survey conducted in celebration of Pregnant Women’s Day on the 10th showed that over 90% of respondents were satisfied with the "convenience of using points (vouchers)" and the "speed of processing after application." This survey was conducted to measure the outcomes of the low birthrate policy, analyzing responses from 7,663 pregnant women who received transportation expense support.
The Seoul City transportation expense support program for pregnant women aims to improve mobility convenience for pregnant women, who are considered transportation-vulnerable, and to reduce the economic burden on families with childbirth. It provides 700,000 KRW per person to all pregnant women residing in Seoul and has been in effect since July 1 of this year.
The most preferred point (voucher) usage category was private car fuel expenses, with 56.6% indicating preference, followed by taxis at 35.7%, and buses/subways at 8.2%. Notably, 99.3% responded overwhelmingly positively to the inclusion of private car fuel expenses as an eligible use.
When asked about changes after receiving transportation support, 67.9% reported reduced burden in using taxis for commuting and outings, 66.0% reported reduced burden in using private cars, and 32.3% reported a reduced burden in using subways and buses, which was relatively lower.
Meanwhile, the partial amendment to the “Seoul Special City Ordinance on Childbirth and Childcare Support,” which includes multicultural family pregnant women as eligible recipients of transportation expense support, passed the Seoul City Council plenary session on September 28 and is scheduled to be promulgated on the 17th. The support target includes foreign pregnant women from multicultural families who have continuously resided in Seoul for more than six months, with retroactive application from the program’s start date of July 1.
Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, stated, "The transportation expense support program for pregnant women is a project with very high satisfaction and perceived impact on the ground, and we will continue to manage it carefully." She added, "We are glad that multicultural family pregnant women will also be included as recipients through the ordinance amendment, and we will ensure they receive support without any issues."
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