Gyeongnam Province, 2023 Women and Family Policy 'Like This'

Gyeongsangnam-do Director of Women and Family Affairs Ryu Hae-seok is announcing the 2023 women and family policy. / Photo by Lee Se-ryeong ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do is integrating the Women's Capability Development Center and the Women and Family Foundation.

On the 8th, Gyeongnam Province announced that, in line with the 8th term of the local government, it has decided to integrate and reorganize the two institutions to provide integrated administrative services in the women and family sector that align with the times, and discussions are underway regarding organizational structure and space operation.

Along with this, a mid- to long-term development strategy for the women and family sector (2023?2027) will be established by the first half of 2023.

The province plans to lower the barriers to pregnancy and childbirth support policies next year.

To ensure stable operation and provision of quality services at the province’s first public postpartum care center, 116 million KRW out of the 581 million KRW operating expenses will be supported by provincial funds.

The discount benefits on usage fees for vulnerable groups will be increased from 35% to 70%.

For families in the province with a standard median income below 180% who use postpartum helper services, the Gyeongnam-type postpartum care cost support project will provide up to 90% of the out-of-pocket expenses.

▲ Establishment of delivery obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Sacheon City and others ▲ Expansion of public postpartum care centers ▲ Support for transportation costs for pregnant women ▲ Support for detailed congenital anomaly testing costs for elderly pregnant women ▲ Health checkup support for prospective and newlywed couples, and other new policies to address low birth rates will continue to be developed.

The province plans to invest 704.8 billion KRW next year to implement 57 projects in the childcare sector.

▲ Payment of 700,000 KRW to parents of 0-year-old children and 350,000 KRW to parents of 1-year-old children ▲ Support for necessary expenses for daycare centers for 5-year-old children ▲ Payment of Gyeongnam-type grandchild care allowance to maternal and paternal grandparents caring for grandchildren in dual-income families ▲ Additional support of 10?40% for out-of-pocket expenses for Gyeongnam Province’s childcare services ▲ Payment of health promotion and training expenses for childcare workers ▲ Payment of special duty allowances for childcare staff during Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, etc.

By 2026, the province aims to completely eliminate asbestos from 127 private and home daycare centers within the province and will also support asbestos removal, disposal costs, and improvement expenses.

For youth preparing for independence, the independence allowance will be increased from 350,000 KRW to 400,000 KRW per month, and the settlement fund will be raised from 8 million KRW to 10 million KRW, along with providing independence education on crime prevention such as fraud and money management.

▲ Expansion of dedicated personnel at the independence support agency ▲ Operation of customized employment support programs ▲ Expansion of independence talk concerts and employment career camps will also be carried out.

To expand the youth activity base, 11.9 billion KRW in provincial funds will be allocated to build youth training facilities in six cities and counties including Changwon and Tongyeong.

The Goseong Youth Training Center, which stopped operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to select a new operator next year and resume operations.

The province will also assign dedicated counselors for youth internet and smartphone overdependence, implement peer counseling projects, youth labor rights projects, out-of-school youth vocational competency enhancement projects, and joint youth drug crime prevention activities with the National Police Agency.

Ryu Haesuk, Director of the Women and Family Bureau, said, “Next year, we will do our best to ensure that each resident is respected and can enjoy a happy daily life through upgraded women and family policy services.”