Pohang City Expands Support for Children Aging Out of Care to 'Stand on Their Own'

10 Million KRW for Independent Settlement Fund, 400,000 KRW Monthly Allowance, etc.

Strengthening Case Management to Support Independent Living Skills Before Protection Ends

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City is expanding support for children who must stand on their own in society due to discharge from facilities or the end of foster care.

Since the second half of last year, the city has allowed the extension of the period of child facility care and foster care from age 18 to 24 based on the child's wishes, increased the self-reliance settlement fund from 5 million won to 8 million won, and raised the self-reliance allowance from 300,000 won to 350,000 won per month.

Amid the recent emergence of the need to strengthen the protection system for children discharged from facilities, this year the city will further expand support by increasing the self-reliance settlement fund to 10 million won and the self-reliance allowance to 400,000 won per month.

Additionally, as livelihood benefits, which were previously paid collectively to facilities, will be applied individually starting this year, the payment amount for children who must live outside the facility due to unavoidable reasons such as university enrollment will increase from only 260,000 won per person to 620,000 won, which is expected to greatly assist the children's studies and living expenses.

On the 13th, six related organizations gathered in Pohang City to hold a meeting regarding support for children aging out of care.

To foster the independence and social adaptation abilities of children whose protection has ended, the city plans to strengthen a collaborative system among related organizations for self-reliance preparation and psychological and emotional support tailored to the characteristics of the children from the time they enter facilities or foster care, in addition to financial support.

To this end, a consultative body has been formed among six dedicated child protection officers assigned to the Pohang City Child Protection Team, the Gyeongbuk Foster Care Support Center, the Gyeongbuk Self-Reliance Support Agency, and three child protection facilities in Pohang City including Seonrin Childcare Center, Hope Group Home, and Gaonnuri Group Home. Through regular meetings and active communication and collaboration, they will strengthen the cultivation of self-reliance skills and support for children under protection and those whose protection has ended.

Choi Myunghwan, Director of the Welfare Bureau, stated, “The most important thing for children whose protection has ended is the belief that there is someone to lean on when they are struggling.” He added, “We will devote ourselves to supporting children so that they can be protected and develop the strength to stand on their own.”