What Makes Jungnang-gu a 'Childbirth and Childcare-Friendly City'?

Expansion and Operation of Various Childcare Facilities such as Public Indoor Playgrounds, Shared Parenting Rooms, and Our Neighborhood Care Centers
Various Support Policies to Alleviate Economic Burden of Parenting
Providing Medical Services from Pregnancy Preparation to Postpartum Care to Ensure the Health of Mothers and Children

Jungnang-gu is actively working to create a childcare-friendly city where having and raising children is easy.

According to the "January Population Trends" announced by Statistics Korea on March 27, the number of births in January this year reached a record low of around 21,000. Additionally, as of 2022, South Korea's total fertility rate was 0.78, the lowest among OECD member countries, and the birth rate continues to decline.

The decline in birth rates directly leads to population decrease, which significantly impacts our society. Population decline results in a reduced workforce, slowing economic growth, accelerating the aging population, and placing burdens on healthcare and welfare systems.

In response, the district has prepared various childbirth and childcare policies to overcome the low birthrate crisis and create an environment favorable for having and raising children.

First, efforts are being made to expand and operate various childcare facilities to foster a child-rearing friendly environment.

The district currently operates the public indoor playground "Jungnang Indoor Playground." This public indoor playground is a Seoul-style kids cafe designed so children can play freely without being affected by environmental pollutants such as fine dust. It features 14 types of play equipment including a koala rope, caterpillar slide, and Ssuksukpangpang trampoline, as well as nursing rooms and rest areas, making it an ideal space for children and guardians to spend time together.

Since the opening of the first Jungnang Indoor Playground in Myeonmok-dong in 2022, a second branch is scheduled to open in May. The second branch will be the largest Seoul-style kids cafe operated by a local government. In the second half of the year, three more locations will be established to allow more children to access nearby facilities.

Additionally, communal childcare rooms are being continuously expanded. These communal childcare rooms serve as play and cultural spaces for infants and toddlers, safe childcare spaces, and are also used as parenting communities. In February this year, the "Green Narae Communal Childcare Room" opened in Sangbong 2-dong, bringing the total number of communal childcare rooms to 15, the highest among Seoul's 25 districts.

The district plans to continue expanding communal childcare rooms by adding a 16th location next year, striving to create a community-based childcare environment.

Moreover, the district operates "Our Neighborhood Care Centers," childcare spaces for working families. These centers provide rest, leisure, and play spaces for elementary school students after school. They were established to reduce childcare burdens for working families and to fill the care gap for elementary school children after school hours. The 6th center opened in Muk 1-dong last July, and efforts are underway to open a 7th center this year to address care gaps.

To alleviate the economic burden of parenting, various support policies are provided in cooperation with the national and city governments.

For children born after January 1 this year, the "First Meeting Use Voucher" provides 2 million KRW for the first child and 3 million KRW for the second child or more in the form of National Happiness Card points. The home childcare allowance provides 100,000 KRW monthly in cash for infants and toddlers under 86 months who are cared for at home. The parental allowance, introduced for children born after February 1, 2022 (0-23 months), offers differentiated payments based on the child's age in months, helping to ease financial burdens.

Additionally, the "Seoul Mom and Dad Taxi" program provides 100,000 KRW worth of large taxi usage points annually per infant for families raising children under 24 months. The "Childcare Support" program offers hourly and full-day care services for families needing childcare for children aged 3 months to 12 years. Other services include housekeeping support for pregnant women, working couples, and multi-child families with incomes below 150% of the median income, providing various helpful services for parenting.

Furthermore, tailored medical services are provided from pregnancy preparation to postnatal care to ensure the health of mothers and children.

The pregnancy preparation support project offers free tests such as blood tests, urine tests, radiology exams, ovarian age tests (AMH), semen analysis, and folic acid supplements to help healthy pregnancy preparation for men and women of childbearing age. Support is also provided for infertility treatments including in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, and traditional Korean medicine infertility treatments.

For pregnant women, prenatal tests and folic acid and iron supplements are provided. The "I Mom Plus Center" offers various educational programs for expectant mothers, including childbirth preparation classes, prenatal education classes, and moonlight classes for prospective parents, helping them prepare for healthy childbirth and parenthood.

For postpartum care and health management, the public health center offers free breast pump rentals, and low-income families receive support for diapers and formula.

Additionally, the postpartum care support project dispatches health managers to homes to assist with newborn feeding, meal preparation for mothers, cleaning, and household chores. Notably, the "Warm Jungnang Postpartum Care Support Project" supports up to 90% of the out-of-pocket costs for postpartum care helpers, the highest level among Seoul's districts, regardless of income, enabling more mothers to benefit.

The district is fully committed to creating a childcare-friendly city by expanding childcare infrastructure such as various childcare facilities, supporting the economic costs of parenting, and providing customized medical services from pregnancy to postnatal care.