Gwangju Seo-gu Council Urges Restoration of 'Birth Celebration Allowance and Childcare Subsidy'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Members of the Seo-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City gathered in one place to urge the restoration of Gwangju Metropolitan City's birth congratulatory money and childcare allowance.

The Seo-gu Council announced on the 31st that during the 309th extraordinary session on the 27th, Councilor Jeon Seung-il took the lead in proposing the 'Resolution to Urge the Restoration of Birth Congratulatory Money and Childcare Allowance.'

All Seo-gu council members called for ▲ the restoration of the abolished birth congratulatory money and reduced childcare allowance ▲ the establishment of proactive birth policies to respond to low birth rates and regional extinction ▲ an apology to citizens for unilateral and non-communicative administration without citizens' opinions.

Councilor Jeon stated, “Gwangju City is mocking its citizens with an administration that is different in appearance and substance by abolishing birth congratulatory money and reducing childcare allowance under the slogan 'Making Gwangju a good place to give birth and raise children.'”

He continued, “Although Gwangju City claims to have conducted several policy demand surveys targeting youth, pregnant women, and mothers, the specific survey details cannot be confirmed, and unilateral and arbitrary notification-style administration continues without prior notice or guidance periods for policy implementation.”

In Jeollanam-do, plans are underway to increase childbirth incentive payments from as low as 2 million KRW to as much as 4 million KRW to expand support for childbirth promotion in order to prevent low birth rates and regional extinction.

Conversely, Gwangju City reduced its childbirth budget by about 30% compared to the previous year, from 46 billion KRW in 2022 to 33.2 billion KRW in 2023. Regarding this, Councilor Jeon criticized it as a “policy that goes against the times.”

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho bless4ya@asiae.co.kr