Gwangju City’s Childcare Leave Program for Self-Employed and Small Business Owners Receives Positive Response

Childcare Service Support of Up to 3.6 Million KRW for One Child per Small Business Owner
Up to 3 Million KRW for Substitute Personnel for Single Female Self-Employed Business Owners

Small Business Owner Childcare Support Package Poster. Provided by Gwangju City

The "Gwangju Small Business Owner Childcare Support Package Program," implemented by Gwangju City to ease the childcare burden on local small business owners, has been receiving a positive response.

Since December last year, Gwangju City has been running the "Gwangju Small Business Owner Childcare Support Package Program" with sponsorship from KB Financial Group (project budget: 1 billion KRW). The program provides subsidies for childcare service fees to local small business owners (both business owners and employees) with children aged 3 months to 12 years, and supports substitute personnel costs for single female self-employed business owners during pregnancy and childbirth.

The amount of support for childcare services varies depending on the number of children: up to 3.6 million KRW (600,000 KRW per month for six months) for one child, and up to 5.4 million KRW (900,000 KRW per month for six months) for two children.

Applicants can freely choose among private childcare services, emergency childcare centers (Gwangju City Childcare Support Center, Gwangju Seo-gu Childcare Support Center), and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's childcare services.

Additionally, the program provides support for substitute personnel for single female self-employed business owners who lack welfare benefits such as maternity leave or parental leave. To help them continue their business operations during and after pregnancy and childbirth, the program offers up to 3 million KRW (1 million KRW per month for up to three months) for substitute personnel costs.

This program plays a significant role in creating an environment where work and family can coexist, reflecting the realities of small business households that often work nights and weekends and are at risk of falling through the cracks in the childcare system.

The owner of a pet snack manufacturing company who received support said, "I struggled to balance childcare and running my business alone, but thanks to the childcare teacher, my child has found emotional stability and I am now able to focus on my business."

Another female business owner in the media industry commented, "Thanks to the reliable childcare services, my work efficiency has improved, and after work, I can spend quality time with my child, which has greatly increased my life satisfaction."

Applications can be submitted through the "Gwangju Aikiwoom" website and will be accepted until the budget is exhausted. Required documents include a certificate of small business ownership, a business registration certificate, and a resident registration certificate. The results of the selection process will be notified individually by text message.

On May 5, Lee Youngdong, Director of the Department of Women and Family, stated, "We will continue to work hard to reduce the childcare burden on dual-income small business owners and to make Gwangju a city where it is easy to raise children."