Bucheon City Expands Life-Cycle Welfare... Accelerates Realization of a Foundational Society

Expansion of Childbirth Support to First Child
Implementation of Universal Menstrual Product Support for Adolescent Girls
Focusing on Establishing a Leading Model Ahead of Next Month’s Integrated Care Rollout
Mayor Cho Yongik: "We Will Realize Universal Inclusive Welfare"

Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating the realization of a foundational social welfare system by promoting customized welfare policies tailored to the life cycle of all generations, including children, adolescents, and the elderly.

According to the city on February 27, Bucheon recently revised the “Ordinance on the Payment of Childbirth Support Funds,” establishing an institutional basis for expanding childbirth support to include the first child. Once the budget is allocated, this year, 1 million won will be provided for the first and second child, 2 million won for the third, and 7 million won for the fourth child and beyond. Approximately 3,000 newborns are expected to benefit from the program this year.

Continuing from last year, the city will also implement an “entrance preparation fund” project, providing 100,000 won per student in the form of the local currency, “Bucheon Pay,” to all first graders entering elementary school or alternative education institutions for the first time. This year, about 4,000 students will be able to use this fund to purchase school-related supplies such as stationery, books, clothing, shoes, and glasses.

Newborn babies lying in a postpartum care center (AI-generated image). Bucheon City will expand the eligibility for childbirth support funds to include the first child starting this year. Provided by Bucheon City

Bucheon will also fully implement the universal support project for menstrual products for adolescent girls. The city has decided to expand the scope from selective support for low-income groups to ensuring basic rights for all female adolescents, and is currently working on enacting an ordinance to provide an institutional foundation for the project. The Bucheon Basic Society Promotion Group, launched on February 12, also identified this project as its top priority and offered advisory opinions.

Particularly, since this project is a province-city/county matching program, securing sufficient project funding at the Gyeonggi-do provincial level is crucial for its stable implementation. This year, the budget for Gyeonggi Province’s universal support project for menstrual products for adolescent girls is set at about 42% of the eligible population. If application rates in each city or county exceed this percentage once the project begins, additional financial burdens may be placed on local governments.

Accordingly, Bucheon City plans to secure the necessary budget through a supplementary budget in the second half of the year if the ordinance passes, and will continue to consult with Gyeonggi Province to secure additional provincial funds, making efforts to ensure financial resources.

Sanitary products for women displayed at a convenience store (AI-generated image). Bucheon City plans to fully implement a universal support project for menstrual products for adolescent girls. Provided by Bucheon City

Bucheon’s “integrated care” project, which has been piloted for seniors, will be implemented nationwide starting February 27, expanding to include persons under 65 with severe physical or brain disabilities. Drawing on its experience as an early leader in this area, the city will focus its administrative capabilities on ensuring the stable settlement of integrated care services at the local level.

Mayor Cho Yongik stated, “We will systematically implement foundational social policies covering the entire life span of our citizens, from infants to seniors, to realize inclusive welfare that everyone can universally enjoy. In particular, we will work closely with Gyeonggi Province to establish the universal support project for menstrual products for adolescent girls as a sustainable welfare policy.”

Meanwhile, Bucheon City plans to continue identifying key foundational social issues such as care and housing, centered around the Basic Society Promotion Group. The city will also gradually establish institutional foundations, including enacting ordinances and setting up formal committees, to solidify the “Bucheon-type foundational society” where fundamental rights become part of daily life.

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This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.