"Raise Both Your Baby and Business"... Gumi City to Provide 12 Million Won Parental Leave Support for Small Business Owners

Subsidy for Substitute Labor Costs for Small Business Owners and Spouses after Childbirth

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province will provide wage support for substitute workers to small business owners as part of efforts to overcome the low birth rate crisis.

Aibodeum Project.

This support targets small business owners and their spouses who have given birth, providing up to 12 million won for a maximum of six months within 12 months after childbirth.

Unlike regular employees, small business owners such as sole proprietors often face difficulties due to loss of income and the burden of hiring substitute workers when they or their spouses give birth, as they may have to suspend their business operations.

As a result, problems such as returning to work prematurely after childbirth or business closure may occur, leaving them outside the scope of maternity and parental leave systems.

Accordingly, North Gyeongsang Province and Gumi City have launched the ‘Small Business Owners Childcare Support Project’ to promote sustainable business operations and provide peace of mind for childcare.

This project provides wage support of 2 million won per month for up to six months to cover the cost of hiring a substitute worker to run the business on behalf of the small business owner or their spouse during the maternity period.

Eligible applicants are small business owners or their spouses who have given birth between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, reside in Gumi City, and operate a business within North Gyeongsang Province. In addition, they must have operated their business for at least one year as of the date of childbirth, and their annual sales in the previous year must be at least 12 million won.

Applications can be submitted through the North Gyeongsang Province small business app ‘Moiso’ starting September 2. After eligibility is confirmed and selection is notified, the small business owner can directly hire a substitute worker.

To claim the subsidy, the small business owner pays the substitute worker’s wages in advance, and then applies for reimbursement to the North Gyeongsang Province Economic Promotion Agency. Up to 2 million won per month can be reimbursed for up to six months, within the actual wage paid.

For eligibility requirements and further details, refer to the announcement from the North Gyeongsang Province Economic Promotion Agency or contact the Small Business Consultation Center.

Mayor Kim Jangho said, “I hope this support measure will allow small business owners to focus on postpartum recovery and child-rearing,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to fill the gaps in existing support systems and develop customized policies for small business owners to overcome the low birth rate crisis.”