"Have a Baby, Get 10 Million Won": Bold Support Cuts Turnover Rate in Half

One Year Since Program Launch, 280 Households Have Benefited
Expanded from 8 to 16 Affiliates, with Ourhome Leading at 83 Recipients

Ourhome announced on the 11th that Hanwha Group's Tech & Life Solution division's "Yugadonghaeng Jiwongeum" (Childcare Companion Support Grant), which provides 10 million won (after tax) to families with newborns, has recorded 280 beneficiary households within one year of its introduction. This program, led by Executive Vice President Kim Dongseon, Head of Future Vision at Hanwha Group, was launched in January last year at eight affiliates and has since been expanded to 16 affiliates. The resignation rate at affiliates that adopted the program has fallen to about half of the previous level.

Ourhome said on the 11th that Hanwha Group's Tech & Life Solution Division's 'Yugadonghaeng Jiwongeum', which provides 10 million won (after tax) to families with newborns, recorded 280 beneficiary households one year after its introduction. Photo by Getty Images

The Childcare Companion Support Grant is a program that provides 10 million won per household regardless of the number of births. As of February, 280 households have received support. By affiliate, 83 employees are from Ourhome, 53 from Hanwha Hotels & Resorts, 28 from Hanwha Semitec, 27 from Hanwha Galleria, and 23 from Hanwha Vision.

The company stated, "Since the introduction of the program, the resignation rate has nearly halved," adding, "At Ourhome, the number of applicants for open recruitment of dietitians and cooks in the second half of last year increased by 150% compared to the same period a year earlier." The company explained that corporate welfare is translating into stronger competitiveness in human resources.

Employees also report a strong positive impact. Park Saetbyeol, a manager at Hanwha Galleria who became the first recipient of the grant in the Tech & Life Solution division following a birth in January last year, said, "We used the Childcare Companion Support Grant to help purchase a new car for the whole family," adding, "It was something we could not do because of the high cost burden, but thanks to the grant, we were able to give the gift of safety to our child and family."

Kim Yeonmin, a principal researcher at Hanwha Semitec who became the father of twins in June last year, received 20 million won at once. Kim explained, "By receiving 20 million won in a single payment, I was able to significantly reduce the initial burden of childcare."

According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, in a survey of 12,500 adults in their 20s to 40s across five countries - South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, and Sweden - South Korea had the highest share of respondents, at 92.7%, who said that childbirth increases their economic burden.

Family first-birthday photos marking the 1st anniversary of the Childcare Companion Support Grant. Provided by Ourhome.

Even this year, 11 households received the grant in January alone. Some employees said the program influenced their decision to have additional children.

Gourmet Galleria, which was recently incorporated into Hanwha Group, has also joined the program. An Ourhome representative said, "The company's consistent 'willingness to accompany' employees over the past year has moved employees' hearts and is creating positive change," adding, "We will continue to pursue a variety of employee-companion projects that can contribute to the company and to society."

Family photos of employees who received childcare accompaniment support grants over the past year. Provided by Ourhome