Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Childcare Is the Future of the Community... We Will Spare No Policy Support"

Goyang City to Invest 23.1 Billion Won in Childbirth and Childcare Support in 2026
300 Million Won for First Child, 10 Million Won for Fifth Child
Expanded Interest Support for Housing Loans for Families with Newborns
Easing Economic Burden... Solidifying Its Status as a Child-Friendly City
Strengthening Community-Based Shared Childcare Centers

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Lee Donghwan, is strengthening its childbirth and childcare support policies in 2026 to accelerate its efforts to become a “child-friendly city.”

According to Goyang Special City on January 16, the city has finalized its childbirth support budget for this year at 23.1 billion won, an increase of 2.4 billion won from last year, and plans to focus on alleviating economic burdens and addressing gaps in childcare services. Last year, the number of newborns in Goyang City was 5,522 (based on resident registration population statistics), a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, is visiting a family that has given birth to the seventh child in Goyang City. Provided by Goyang Special City

Economic Support Including First Encounter Voucher and Childbirth Grant... Respecting the Value of Childbirth with Rice Cake and Dabok Package

Goyang Special City provides dual support for families with newborns through the national “First Encounter Voucher” policy and its own “Childbirth Grant” to reduce the initial economic burden. As a result, families receive a total of 3 million won in benefits for the birth of their first child, consisting of a 2 million won First Encounter Voucher and a 1 million won Childbirth Grant. In particular, for the birth of a fifth child or more, the city's grant alone amounts to 10 million won, providing substantial assistance to large families.

Emotional congratulatory gestures are also notable. The city continues to implement unique programs that respect the value of childbirth. All families with newborns receive a “Celebratory Rice Cake” made from domestic rice, and families with three or more children are provided with a handmade organic baby goods set, the “Dabok Package.”

These programs are carried out in collaboration with “Soul Bakery,” a vocational rehabilitation facility for people with disabilities, and the “Goyang Senior Club,” a senior employment agency, contributing not only to revitalizing the local economy but also to creating jobs for people with disabilities and seniors.

Playmat included in the 'Dabok Package' provided to families with three or more children. Provided by Goyang Special City

Reducing Housing Costs for Childbirth Households Without Homes... Integrated App for Large Family Benefits

Goyang Special City is also actively working to address housing insecurity, which is one of the fundamental causes of low birth rates. Through the “Interest Support Program for Monthly Rent and Jeonse Loans for Households with Newborns,” families without homes and with incomes at or below 150% of the median are eligible for an annual subsidy equivalent to 1.8% of their loan balance, up to 1 million won per year, for a maximum of four years. Since enacting the relevant ordinance for the first time in the country in 2021, a total of 4,431 households have benefited from this program.

From this year, the eligibility requirements have been further relaxed due to ordinance amendments. Starting with households that give birth in 2025, even if support was previously discontinued due to ineligibility, families can reapply once they meet the requirements again, allowing more households to benefit.

Meanwhile, the mobile “Goyang Multi-Child e-Card,” which provides various discounts to families with two or more children, has been integrated with the Gyeonggi Province MyData Service “Gyeonggi Ttok D” app since December 17, 2025.

Existing Goyang Multi-Child e-Card users can simply install the “Gyeonggi Ttok D” app and add the resident card to use the service without a physical card, and can access all lifestyle services offered throughout Gyeonggi Province in one app. Previously, when the head of household was a grandparent or when parents and children were registered as separate households, additional documentation was required. However, with the integration into the “Gyeonggi Ttok D” app, these inconveniences have been resolved, greatly improving convenience.

‘Grandmother and Sewing Machine’ Creating Multiple Gift Sets, Goyang Senior Club. Provided by Goyang Special City

Relaxed Income Criteria and Extended Service Hours for Childcare... Expanded Welfare for Single-Parent Families

The Childcare Service is a program in which caregivers visit homes to care for children under the age of 12, minimizing childcare gaps for dual-income families and others. Starting this year, the income eligibility for childcare support has been relaxed from 200% or less of the median income to 250% or less, significantly expanding support to middle-class dual-income families who were previously excluded.

In particular, support for vulnerable families-including single-parent, grandparent-headed, disabled parent, disabled child, and adolescent parent households-has been strengthened, with the annual government-supported service hours increased from 960 to 1,080 hours.

Support for single-parent families has also been expanded. The income eligibility for low-income single-parent family support has been raised from 63% or less of the median income to 65% or less. In addition, the monthly child-rearing allowance and facility-based single-parent household living subsidy have been increased to 100,000 won, and the annual school supplies allowance for elementary, middle, and high school students has been raised to 100,000 won.

Notice on Interest Support Program for Monthly Rent and Jeonse Loans for Households with Newborns. Provided by Goyang Special City

Furthermore, starting this year, the eligibility for the child allowance has been expanded from children up to age 8 to children up to age 9. The infant care fee for children aged 0 to 2 attending daycare centers has been increased by 3-5%, and the age range for free childcare support for children attending daycare centers has been expanded to include children aged 4 and 5.

Mayor Lee Donghwan of Goyang Special City stated, “Raising children is not just the responsibility of individual families, but an important task for building the future of our community,” adding, “We will spare no policy support so that more families can share the joy of raising children with less burden.”