Changwon Special City "Check Out Citizen-Customized Policies Changing from the New Year"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Song Jong-gu] Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam has carefully selected newly implemented or changed citizen-tailored policies starting this year and published the "2023 Policies That Are Changing" booklet (including e-book).

The policies and systems changing from the new year cover 41 items across five fields: ▲welfare, women, and health ▲economy and taxation ▲general administration and society ▲firefighting and safety ▲environment and agriculture.

First, support in the welfare, women, and health sectors will be greatly expanded. Vulnerable postpartum mothers registered as residents in Changwon City will receive 70% of the usage fee (1.12 million KRW per person for 2 weeks) for the "Miryang Public Postpartum Care Center Vulnerable Group Discount Support Project," reducing their economic burden and leading the creation of a birth-friendly atmosphere.

The "Parental Allowance Support" policy, jointly supported by Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, and the government to assist families with newborns, is also noteworthy. From children born after January 2022 until 23 months old, parents will receive a monthly parental allowance of 350,000 to 700,000 KRW to help create a stable environment for child-rearing.

In the economy and taxation sector, a notable policy is the "Small Business Digital and Online Infrastructure Support Project." As digital technology adoption and online transactions increasingly dominate the consumer market, 55 small business operators who have been in business for more than six months will receive support covering 70% of the cost (up to 2 million KRW) for digital devices and online marketing expenses to help local merchants respond accordingly.

In the general administration and social sector, "purchase costs for everyday clothes (up to 300,000 KRW)" will now be supported for "new students at schools not requiring uniforms and alternative education institutions," who were previously unsupported, easing parents' educational expenses and advancing universal educational welfare.

In the firefighting and safety sector, the coverage items of the "Changwon City Citizen Safety Insurance," which pays insurance benefits to citizens who suffer unexpected damages, have been increased and expanded to a total of 23 items. Newly added items include four cases (three related to dog bite accidents and one for Silver Zone traffic accident injury treatment), and the expanded item is the school zone traffic accident injury treatment coverage, extended from grades 1?5 to grades 1?14.

The Citizen Safety Insurance provides overlapping coverage regardless of other insurance subscriptions for accidents or disasters occurring anywhere nationwide and applies to all citizens registered in Changwon City (including foreigners and overseas Koreans residing in Korea).

In the environment and agriculture sector, the "early retirement support target for old diesel vehicles" has been expanded. Diesel vehicles have been extended from grade 5 to grade 4, and construction machinery support now includes forklifts and excavators, accelerating early retirement support to promote low-emission vehicles. The announcement for early retirement support applications is scheduled for February.

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, said, "This '2023 Policies That Are Changing' booklet was carefully composed with citizen-tailored information that is especially helpful from the citizens' perspective. We will do our best to promote these policies so that citizens do not miss out on benefits they can enjoy as Changwon citizens in their daily lives."

The booklet is expected to be available at the civil service desks of Eup, Myeon, and Dong administrative welfare centers within the first week of January 2023.