Jeonnam Filled with Children's Laughter... Effectiveness of Customized Birth Policies

Jeonnam Achieves a Total Fertility Rate of 1.04 in Q2, the Only Province to Surpass 1.0 Nationwide
Ranks First in National Fertility Rate for Two Consecutive Years
Strengthening Support from Marriage and Housing to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting

Various childbirth and parenting policies are showing effectiveness, with Jeonnam achieving the highest total fertility rate nationwide for two consecutive years. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Customized birth policies promoted by Jeonnam Province, such as the Basic Birth Allowance, support for infertility treatments, and the Jeonnam-style 24-hour childcare centers, have proven highly effective, leading the province to achieve the highest total fertility rate nationwide.

Jeonnam Province is implementing tailored, life-cycle policies focused on real-world needs for marriage, housing, pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, and care, aiming to create an environment conducive to raising children and increasing the birth rate.

To ensure housing stability for young people and newlyweds, the province is running the "Support for Homes for Newlyweds and Families with Multiple Children" program, providing up to 250,000 won per month in loan interest support for three years. For the first time in Korea, Jeonnam is also constructing the "Jeonnam-style Ten-Thousand-Won Housing," which will allow residents to move in for just 10,000 won per month, with the first move-ins planned for the second half of 2026.

To alleviate the financial burden of childbirth and parenting, and to guarantee the basic livelihood and income of residents born in Jeonnam, the province began providing the nation’s first "Basic Birth Allowance" this year.

Regardless of assets, income, or employment status, every resident born in Jeonnam from 2024 onward receives 200,000 won monthly until adulthood. Meeting all five key conditions of basic income, this Basic Birth Allowance is being actively promoted as the Jeonnam-style basic income model.

The Basic Birth Allowance goes beyond the limitations of one-time support focused on infancy, offering regular and long-term payments until age 18. This provides substantial assistance and psychological stability during adolescence, when childcare costs increase, and is credited with helping to shift perceptions toward "the community raising children together."

For couples struggling with infertility, the province provides systematic support, including expanded fertility testing, infertility treatment support without restrictions on age or number of attempts, fertility preservation projects, transportation subsidies for those living far away, and infertility and depression counseling centers. As a result, there were 838 pregnancies among infertile couples last year, accounting for 10% of all births.

To provide affordable, safe, and comfortable postpartum care, Jeonnam operates the largest number of public postpartum care centers in the country and also offers "Mother and Newborn Health Manager Services" to all families with newborns.

Jeonnam Province is also working to create a favorable environment for raising children, in addition to supporting marriage, housing, pregnancy, and childbirth.

This year, to support parents working night shifts and dual-income families, the province designated and operated "Jeonnam-style 24-hour childcare centers." The child meal support rate was raised from 9,000 won to 9,500 won, and the eligibility for child care services was expanded from households earning up to 150% of the median income to those earning up to 200%.

Starting this year, the "Jeonnam-style Grandparent-Grandchild Care Support" program is also being implemented, which is expected to reduce the childcare burden for dual-income families and strengthen the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Jeonnam Province has established an integrated platform offering user-centered, one-stop services, allowing residents to easily access and apply for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare services. The "Jeonnam I-Talk" platform has been in operation since October.

Jeonnam’s birth and childcare policies, with their field-oriented and demand-driven customized support, are positively impacting various indicators, including an increase in the birth rate.

After ranking first nationwide in total fertility rate for two consecutive years, Jeonnam recorded a total fertility rate of 1.04 in the second quarter of this year, the only region in the country to surpass 1.0. Thanks to these policy achievements, the province received the Presidential Award in the low birthrate response category at the 21st Korea Local Autonomy Management Awards.

Yoon Yeonhwa, Director of the Population and Youth Bureau of Jeonnam Province, stated, "Jeonnam’s field-oriented, customized birth policies demonstrate that local governments can drive positive change through proactive, long-term support measures, even amid the nationwide trend of declining birth rates."