"Startups Encouraged, Childcare Neglected"... Jeonnam Province Faces Criticism Over Policy Gaps

Assemblyman Im Hyeongseok Criticizes Neglect of Childbirth Gaps
Calls Out Policy Regression

Jeonnam Province has announced various startup support measures to help young people settle in the region, but there are criticisms that it has failed to establish policies to address the gaps in childbirth and childcare for young entrepreneurs.

On December 3, Assemblyman Im Hyeongseok (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangyang 1) stated at the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts meeting, "This year, the budget for youth policies in Jeonnam Province is about 86 billion won, and of the 35 billion won allocated to the employment sector, 8.2 billion won is set aside for startup-related initiatives."

However, he pointed out, "While the province encourages startups, there are no support measures available for young entrepreneurs when they need to take time off for childbirth or childcare."

Im Hyeongseok, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, is pointing out the employment and childbearing/childcare gaps faced by young job seekers. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Assembly

Assemblyman Im criticized, "If a young person who opened a hair salon alone with startup support gives birth, she has no choice but to close her shop. Yet there is not a single policy in the province to support such cases. The lack of policies for young self-employed individuals during marriage, childbirth, and childcare stages is actually having the opposite effect, hindering their settlement in the region."

He continued, "To help young people take root in the region in a stable way, it is not enough to support only startups; services that extend to childbirth and childcare are also necessary. Despite the increase in one-person startups and young self-employed individuals, it is a serious problem that both the Office of Gender Equality and Family Policy and the Small and Medium Venture Business Division submitted reports stating 'not applicable' on this issue."

He added, "As support for youth startups has increased and the number of young self-employed individuals has grown, it is only natural that corresponding support measures for childbirth and childcare should follow. I urge you to identify related projects and reflect them in next year's budget."

In response, Yoon Jin-ho, Acting Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs, replied, "We had not considered support for childbirth. We will carefully review the suggestions made. We need to think about how to fill these policy gaps."