Hong Taeyong, Mayor of Gimhae, "No One Should Be Left Behind" ... 686.8 Billion Won Allocated for Welfare Budget

Gyeongnam Gimhae City Hall. [Image source=Gimhae City Hall]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “We will move forward as a warm welfare city Gimhae that embraces everyone without leaving any citizen behind.”

Hong Taeyong, mayor of Gimhae City, Gyeongnam, made this statement regarding the 2023 budget allocation in the social welfare sector.

Gimhae City announced on the 10th that it will invest 686.8 billion KRW in the welfare budget this year, which is 54.3 billion KRW more than last year.

According to the city, the budget is allocated as follows: ▲Senior support 185.5 billion KRW ▲Basic living security for low-income groups 122.2 billion KRW ▲Childcare and children 216.6 billion KRW ▲Family and women 27.2 billion KRW ▲Support for the stability of life for the disabled and vulnerable groups 66.3 billion KRW ▲Veterans management 6.8 billion KRW ▲Youth 5.6 billion KRW ▲General social welfare 56.6 billion KRW.

Major projects to be carried out include a first meeting voucher worth 2 million KRW per newborn, installation of two learning and play spaces Station-L for infants and mothers, establishment of the Gimhae-type community integrated care system, operation of resident-led ‘Happy Gimhae Welfare Village through Communication’ in all eup, myeon, and dong districts, and construction of the Gimhae Youth Cultural Welfare Center.

In the field of creating a childbirth and child-rearing environment, measures include issuing first meeting vouchers, expanding childbirth incentive payments, providing parental allowances, infant allowances, home care allowances, child care support projects, expanding operation of shared childcare spaces and child care cooperatives, expanding national and public daycare centers to improve childcare quality, and establishing the Gimhae Childcare Comprehensive Support Center.

To implement communication-friendly welfare, projects such as operating the Gimhae Welfare Village, establishing the Gimhae-type community integrated care system, operating the ICT Health Care Center, running the Gaya Ieumchae, and energy support projects for low-income groups will be promoted.

Budgets will also be executed for vulnerable group support expansion, including easing the selection criteria for basic living security, operating self-support work groups and self-support enterprises, creating a multicultural harmony cultural space in Dongsang-dong, stable support and human rights protection projects for multicultural families, and community settlement support projects for foreign residents.

Senior support budgets will be operated, including pursuing WHO age-friendly city certification, expanding customized care services for the elderly, expanding senior job projects, and promoting the introduction of the 3-generation Hyodeurim allowance.

Support measures for the disabled will also be implemented, such as establishing a life-cycle care system for the disabled, supporting independence through expanding jobs for the disabled, and strengthening the care safety net of welfare facilities for the disabled.

For children and youth, projects will include expanding community after-school care facilities, strengthening youth social safety net support systems, revitalizing youth cultural activities, enhancing youth policy participation activities, and promoting the construction of the Gimhae Youth Cultural Welfare Center.

Mayor Hong said, “More than one-third of the total budget this year will be invested in the welfare sector,” adding, “We will steadily complete various welfare policies one by one to create a happy childbirth and child-rearing environment for both children and parents and to realize coexistence and inclusive welfare that embraces the socially vulnerable.”