Jangsu County Expands Support for Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Child Care Service

"Easing the Burden of Child-Rearing
and Addressing Gaps in Child Care"

Jangsu County in North Jeolla Province will expand its support program for out-of-pocket expenses related to the child care service starting December 15.

According to the county, the child care service is a government-supported program in which a caregiver visits households with children under the age of 12, such as dual-income or single-parent families, where there is a gap in child-rearing.

Jangsu County Office Building. Provided by Jangsu County

This system is designed to help parents balance economic activities and child-rearing, and demand for the service continues to grow among families in need of care.

Since July 2023, the county has been providing 50% support for out-of-pocket expenses, regardless of income type, to all families using the government-supported child care service, in an effort to ease the burden of child-rearing and create a care-friendly environment.

In particular, for families classified as "Da-Ma type," where the government support rate decreases as income level increases, there have been ongoing concerns that the higher proportion of out-of-pocket expenses leads to a significant financial burden for child care.

To more effectively reduce the financial burden of care and encourage greater use of the child care service, the county has decided to fully expand its support for out-of-pocket expenses.

With the expanded implementation, the county will now cover 70% of out-of-pocket expenses for the first child and 100% for the second child and beyond, up from the previous 50% support.

The county expects this expansion to significantly reduce the financial burden on families in need of care, including multi-child families, dual-income families, and single-parent households. It is also anticipated to help create a safer care environment for children and support parents in maintaining stable economic activities.

County Governor Choi Hunsik stated, "By expanding support for out-of-pocket expenses for the child care service, we hope to lessen the burden on families in need of care and help children grow up in a safer environment. We will continue to closely address the real challenges faced by residents regarding child-rearing and care, and will consistently pursue support policies that can be truly felt by the community."

Meanwhile, inquiries about using the Jangsu County child care service can be directed to the administrative welfare center of the relevant town or township, or to the Jangsu County Volunteer Center.