Gyeonggi-do to Provide Universal Menstrual Products Support for Adolescent Girls... Applications Accepted from the 13th

Promotional Poster for Gyeonggi-do Universal Support Project for Menstrual Products for Female Adolescents

Gyeonggi Province will begin accepting applications from the 13th for the 'Universal Menstrual Product Support Project,' which provides female adolescents with 13,000 KRW per month for purchasing menstrual products.

This project was first introduced in 2021 by Gyeonggi Province as the first metropolitan local government nationwide to guarantee the health rights of female adolescents.

Last year, Gyeonggi Province and 20 cities and counties within the province jointly promoted the project (30% provincial funds, 70% city/county funds), supporting approximately 143,000 female adolescents aged 11 to 18.

This year, three new regions?Hwaseong, Gwangmyeong, and Uiwang?have joined, allowing female adolescents born between 2005 and 2012 living in 22 cities and counties to receive support.

Seongnam City, which participated last year, has decided not to participate this year.

The support amount is capped at 13,000 KRW per person per month (up to 156,000 KRW annually) and is provided in local currency specific to the region.

The issued local currency can only be used to purchase menstrual products at convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24) in the applicant’s city or county of residence.

Applications can be submitted online twice a year, in the first and second half of the year. The online application periods are March 13 to April 14 for the first half, and July 10 to August 18 for the second half.

During these periods, applicants can apply by completing mobile phone identity verification on the website (https://voucher.konacard.co.kr/41/20) via internet or mobile.

Female adolescents who have difficulty applying online can also apply in person at their local eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare center from March 13 to November 17. The applicant can be the adolescent herself, a guardian, or the primary caregiver.

However, applicants who have already applied for the menstrual product support project for female adolescents under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family?such as basic livelihood security recipients, legally designated low-income groups, or single-parent families?are not eligible for duplicate support.

Those born in 2012 who turn 11 years old must apply anew. Existing applicants who received support in 2021?2022 will continue to receive support without reapplying if they maintain residence in the participating city or county. The support funds must be used by December 31, 2023. Unused funds will not be carried over and will automatically expire.

Kim Hyang-sook, Director of Lifelong Education at the provincial office, stated, "We will continue to strive to promote human rights and improve welfare so that female adolescents can grow up healthily."