Gyeonggi-do to Invest 19.5 Billion KRW in Single-Parent Family Childcare and Housing Support This Year

Gyeonggi Province will invest 19.5 billion KRW in provincial funds this year to create a foundation for independence for single-parent families, operate and support welfare facilities, and establish stable child-rearing conditions.

First, Gyeonggi Province will increase the child-rearing allowance for single-parent families to 210,000 KRW per month per child under 18 years old, up 10,000 KRW from the previous year, to create a stable child-rearing environment.

Also, starting this month, the eligibility for child-rearing allowance for single-parent families will be expanded nationwide for the first time from 63% of the median income to 100% (2-person household, 3.68 million KRW). This measure aims to reduce the child-rearing burden on single-parent families. Newly selected recipients will receive an additional 100,000 KRW per month. Eight cities and counties including Hwaseong and Siheung will participate first, and the remaining cities and counties are negotiating participation.

Support Status for Single-Parent Families in Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province has been providing 350,000 KRW per month to parents aged 24 or younger in youth single-parent families (based on median income 65% or less, 2-person household 2.39 million KRW), regardless of the child’s age, for their living stability. Starting this year, 350,000 KRW per month will be provided for children aged 2 or older, and 400,000 KRW per month for children under 2 years old. The ‘Aureum Alternative School’ is also operated to provide educational opportunities for young unmarried mothers.

Gyeonggi Province will add five more units this year to the communal living-type purchased rental housing support project, which promotes psychological and economic stability for homeless single-parent families, operating a total of 30 units. Applications for this project are accepted year-round at Suwon Gounteul and Ansan Healthy Family Support Center.

The operation of base institutions, which were separately managed for single-parent families and unmarried parents, will be integrated into single-parent family and unmarried parent support base institutions (Suwon and Guri) to unify services and improve quality. These base institutions provide counseling and information, childbirth and child-rearing support, parent education, self-help groups, and cultural program operations.

In addition, the ‘Crisis Pregnant Women Safety Counseling Hotline’ (010-4257-7722) for pregnant women struggling with unexpected pregnancy and childbirth will continue to operate this year. Especially, with the enforcement of the ‘Special Act on Crisis Pregnancy, Protected Childbirth Support, and Child Protection’ in July this year, a stable project foundation has been established. Eligible residents are single-parent families with a basic median income of 100% or less (2-person household, about 3.68 million KRW). However, crisis pregnant women aged 24 or younger can enter single-parent family welfare facilities (childbirth support facilities) regardless of income level starting this year.

Gyeonggi Province has allocated a total of 165 billion KRW, including 19.5 billion KRW in provincial funds, to promote support policies for single-parent families.

Kim Miseong, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Women and Family Bureau, emphasized, "We have prepared detailed support policies to ensure that single-parent families do not lack care and child-rearing," and added, "We will do our best to create a child-rearing environment where single-parent families are not marginalized and can lead stable daily lives and support the healthy growth of their children."