Jeongeup City to Cover Up to 70% of Out-of-Pocket Childcare Costs with Municipal Funds

Significantly Reducing the Financial Burden for Families with Childcare Needs

Jeongeup City in North Jeolla Province will provide up to 70% support for the out-of-pocket costs of child care services for families experiencing gaps in child care, starting this year, in order to reduce their financial burden.

According to Jeongeup City on January 8, the city plans to implement an innovative childcare policy that will reduce actual household expenses by covering a portion of the costs that parents previously had to pay themselves, in addition to existing government subsidies, by allocating separate municipal funds.

The support is available for households registered in Jeongeup City where a childcare gap occurs, such as in dual-income families. Eligible children are those aged from three months to under 12 years old, and the policy applies to all types of services, including hourly care, full-day infant care, and care for children with infectious diseases.

The amount of support varies depending on the number of children. For families with one child, the city will cover 30% of the out-of-pocket costs, while for families with two or more children, the city will cover 70%. For example, in a family with two or more children and an income at or below 75% of the median, the hourly out-of-pocket cost, which was previously 1,918 won, will be significantly reduced to 575 won, cutting the financial burden to about one-third.

In particular, the city plans to minimize gaps in care by operating both an "emergency care service," which can be requested up to two hours before the service starts, and a "short-term service," which can be requested up to four hours in advance, to respond to urgent care needs.

Families wishing to receive support can apply in person at the administrative welfare center of their town, township, or neighborhood of residence. Applications are accepted at any time throughout the year starting in January 2026, and families already using the service can also apply when their government support eligibility is reassessed.

Mayor Lee Haksoo stated, "The municipal support for out-of-pocket costs will be a key policy to help parents balance work and family life," adding, "We will actively promote this program so that more families can benefit, and we will do our utmost to ensure high-quality care services through rigorous quality management."