Major Tasks and Additional Supplementary Measures for Low Birthrate Announced
Expansion of Benefits for Multi-Child Families, Including Airport Fast Track
Increased R&D Investment in Age-Tech for the Elderly
The government is promoting the expansion of benefits for multi-child families, including raising the tax-exempt limit for corporate childcare support funds to 200,000 won per child. A fast track will also be established to allow families with three or more children to complete airport procedures more quickly.
The Presidential Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society held the "10th Emergency Population Countermeasure Meeting" on the 11th and announced the "Major Tasks Promotion Plan and Additional Supplementary Tasks for Low Birthrate Measures" containing these details. Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, said on the 11th, "Responding to the population crisis is an urgent issue that cannot be delayed even for a moment for the sustainability of our economy and society," adding, "The government will focus more capabilities on responding to low birthrates to ensure that the momentum for the difficult-to-achieve rebound in fertility rates continues."
Benefits for families with three or more children will also be increased. From now on, families with three or more children will be able to use priority departure services at major domestic airports along with the transportation disadvantaged and social contributors.
This is possible when all children are minors under 19 years old and at least one parent accompanies each child. The service will be introduced from the second half of this year, focusing on airports where the service is already operated, such as Incheon Airport, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju Airports.
Preferences for multi-child families in public rental housing, such as purchased rental and jeonse rental, will also be strengthened. Currently, when there is competition among applicants with the same ranking during the selection process, the total score of evaluation items such as residence period, number of children, and subscription savings payment frequency is compared.
The government also plans to significantly increase R&D investment in advanced technology (Age-Tech) services for the elderly, which currently accounts for only 1% of total research and development (R&D) costs. A large-scale R&D project worth about 300 billion won over six years is being planned, and about 180 billion won will be invested to address welfare and care tasks in preparation for a super-aged society. To attract private investment, a mother fund of about 50 billion won will also be established this year.
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