Gumi-si, Full Expansion of Support Measures for Multi-Child Families

Priority for Multi-Child Families, Recreating the 'Best City to Raise Children'

Expansion of Public Facility Benefits Including Free Public Parking and Discounted Performance Tickets

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province will fully expand support for multi-child families as part of its policy project to create the "Best City to Raise Children."

Multichild Family Support Poster.

Since last year, Gumi City has reviewed all policies it is implementing to overcome the low birthrate crisis and foster a childbirth encouragement atmosphere, and has developed various special policies for multi-child families.

First, to implement policies that citizens can most tangibly feel, the city decided to significantly expand benefits for using public facilities such as public parking lots.

In May, through an ordinance amendment, the city established the basis to expand the discount criteria for multi-child families using public parking lots from families with two or more children under 19 years old starting in the second half of the year, and to increase the parking fee discount from 50% to a full exemption.

In addition, six facilities including the Toy Libraries (Ainuri, Atti, Chorokbyeol), the Childcare Comprehensive Support Center, Gumi Eco Land (experience activity fees), the Lifelong Learning Center, Gangdong Cultural Welfare Center, and the Park Chung-hee Presidential Historical Archives can be used free of charge.

Public facilities offering usage fee discounts for multi-child families include a 40% discount on admission fees for cultural and artistic center planned performances (12 times a year), as well as a 60% discount on usage fees at the Nakdong River Water Sports Experience Center and Gumi Eco Land Monorail. Additionally, 11 other locations such as Gumi Science Museum, Workers' Comprehensive Welfare Center, Workers' Cultural Center, Silla Buddhism First Site, Youth Training Center, Olympic Memorial National Life Center, Geumo and Gupo Tennis Courts, Complex Sports Center Bowling Alley, Gumi Camping Site, Nakdong River Outdoor Water Playground, and Okseong Natural Recreation Forest provide a 50% discount on usage fees.

For multi-child families purchasing electric vehicles, subsidies will be provided first (first half of 2024), and benefits such as free provision of volume-based waste bags and additional mileage points linked with the Gumi Dadung e-Card when charging Gumi Love Gift Certificates will be given according to the number of children (first half of 2024).

Furthermore, families with three or more children will be included in the free shared public vehicle program, which was previously supported only for underprivileged groups, and will be expanded to include water bill support (second half of 2023).

In particular, to foster a childbirth and childcare-friendly atmosphere in public sectors, from this year, the multi-child bonus point system for hiring environmental workers will be greatly expanded, and performance evaluation bonus points and promotion preferences will be granted to public officials with multiple children.

The city announced plans to expand this system to affiliated organizations and other public sectors to play a leading role in creating a childbirth and childcare-friendly workplace culture and to spread it to the private sector as well.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, "We will spare no support to reduce the childcare burden on multi-child families," and added, "We will do our best to make Gumi the best city to raise children by implementing various childbirth and childcare policies."

Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi, with a multi-child family (right).

To proactively respond to overcoming the low birthrate, the city amended the ordinance in June 2021 to expand the support criteria for families with children from three to two, and through various support policies, about 24,000 multi-child families can benefit.