Naju City in Jeollanam-do plans to continue the rising birth rate trend through the changing childbirth and birth support policies in 2024.
According to Naju City on the 17th, the timing and method of childbirth incentive payments were adjusted following the expansion of government support such as parental benefits starting January 1 this year.
Naju City's childbirth incentive payments were significantly increased from July last year. For the first child, the amount was raised from 1 million KRW to 3 million KRW; for the second child, from 3 million KRW to 5 million KRW; and for the third child and beyond, from 5 million KRW to 10 million KRW.
In particular, the six-month residency requirement was completely abolished, attracting nationwide attention as a local government that provides childbirth incentives even if the family has lived there for just one day.
The city supports 1 million KRW in cash for infants (age 0) based on the first child, divided into two payments of 500,000 KRW every six months, and from age 2, 2 million KRW is provided quarterly in 500,000 KRW installments as cash points on the Naju Love Card.
This balanced support from infancy to early childhood aims to help revitalize the local economy as well.
The “Household Care Service,” which assists with housework for pregnant and childbirth families, has also been enhanced by increasing the usage time per session by one hour.
Since April last year, the Household Care Service has removed all support conditions such as residency period, second child or more, and disabilities, providing support to all pregnant families.
Due to the removal of conditions, even families with a first pregnancy (from 21 weeks to before childbirth) can receive the service, which has been met with great approval.
Reflecting feedback from service-using families, the city increased the service time from the original 3 hours per session (total 5 sessions) to 4 hours per session (total 4 sessions) starting this year.
Childbirth and support policies linked with Jeollanam-do have also been expanded and strengthened.
The “First Meeting Voucher,” which provides 2 million KRW in cash per newborn, has been increased to 3 million KRW for the second child and beyond.
For multi-child families, the purchase support for childcare products has been relaxed from the third child to the second child, providing 500,000 KRW per newborn.
The city also encourages pregnancy for late-married and older couples who wish to have children.
Starting this year, a new support policy for “Egg Freezing Retrieval Procedure Fees” and “Assisted Reproductive Technology for Frozen Eggs” has been introduced and is being piloted.
The support targets women in their 30s and 40s who have resided in the province for more than six months, regardless of income.
If egg freezing storage is desired, up to 2 million KRW is supported for egg retrieval procedure fees, ultrasound, injection fees, and medication costs.
Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “We are creating a Naju that is good for having and raising children through universal policy support without discrimination and highly effective policies from pregnancy and childbirth to childcare and education. We will do our best to contribute to overcoming the national low birthrate through active promotion and guidance of the changed pregnancy and childbirth policies in the new year.”
Meanwhile, the city recorded the highest birth rate increase among cities in the province last year, with 735 newborns in the Naju area as of December 31 last year, an 8.09% increase compared to 680 the previous year.
Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yukbong baekok@asiae.co.kr
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