Ansan City of Gyeonggi Province will expand childbirth support benefits from January 2022

Ansan City will implement support policies for multi-child families and the children of foreign residents.

Ansan City of Gyeonggi Province will expand childbirth support benefits from January 2022.

ⓒGyeonggi Province

South Korean birthrate falls to lowest point in history

Statistics Korea announced that the birthrate of South Korea in 2020 was at 0.84. Last year, the birthrate fell to the lowest point in the history of South Korea with the number of newborns, which was at 270,000 in 2020, dropping to 260,000 in 2021. There are many indications that the South Korean birthrate has reached a critical stage with delays in marriage and childbirth overlapping with COVID-19. To address this issue, the central government, as well as local governments, are currently implementing various supports for childbirth and parenting.

“Ansan City Will Raise Children With You”

Of particular note, Ansan City has announced the expansion its childbirth support under the slogan of “Ansan City is a great place for children.” In addition to congratulatory payments for childbirth, the city will also provide ‘First Meeting Vouchers.’ Accordingly, when a city resident gives birth to their first child, a support payment of KRW 3,000,000 will be presented; this increases to KRW 5,000,000 when a resident gives birth to a second or subsequent child.

ⓒGyeonggi Province

This year, the government has launched the First Meeting Voucher to promote childbirth and reduce child support expenses of families. As a result, some local governments reduced their existing congratulatory payments for childbirth. However, Ansan City has decided to make the existing congratulatory payment in full without any reduction.

 Therefore, starting this year, if a resident of Ansan City bears their first child, that resident will receive a total of KRW 3 million; this includes KRW 1 million through the existing congratulatory payment and KRW 2 million through the First Meeting Voucher. If a resident gives birth to a second or subsequent child, they receive a total of KRW 5 million, including KRW 3 million through the existing congratulatory payment and KRW 2 million through the First Meeting Voucher.

Applying for First Meeting Voucher

There are two ways to apply for the First Meeting Voucher:

1.  Welfare Center
Visit the welfare center responsible for your registered place of residence.

2. BOKJIRO or GOV.KR websites
To apply online, visit the BOKJIRO or GOV.KR websites. Application acceptance is determined after a review of birth registration and the satisfaction of residency requirements.

First Meeting Voucher Provision

The First Meeting Voucher will be provided from April 1 after implementation of the corresponding policy.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Infant Care Support Policies of Ansan City

Ansan City has implemented various policies related to pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. Be sure to carefully review them in order to receive full benefits.

Pregnant Women

▲ KRW 100 Taxi for Pregnant Women
Pregnant women can use a taxi for a fare of KRW 100 twice a month for round trips and twice for one-way trips for the purpose of receiving gynecological examinations.
▲ Happy Plus Card
Pregnant women can also receive full or partial exemptions when using public parking lots, public facility programs, Women’s Vision Centers, and community centers.
▲Organic farm products, folic acid, iron pills, and blood tests are supported for pregnant women.
▲ Accident insurance is available for pregnant women and infants.

Childbirth

▲Congratulatory payments for childbirth
▲Items to support childbirth
▲Maternity grant: child-rearing expenses for single parents, childbirth support for disabled women, and childbirth support for low-income families.

Infant Care

▲Policies for multi-child families
Reduction of utility bills and support of school expenses such as financial aid for half of tuition payments made by multi-child families are provided.
▲Foreign residents: Foreign residents are eligible for child care support and other benefits.

Additionally, child rearing support of KRW 30,000 per month for multi-child families with children under the age of 5 have expanded from those with three or more children to those with two or more children. Please remember this before applying for additional benefits.

 

ⓒGyeonggi Province

Ansan City has also opened ‘AI LOVE YOU,’ a website that provides information on pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care for expectant parents and parents with children.

If you have any questions regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care policies implemented by Ansan City, you can refer to the ‘Ansan City AI LOVE YOU’ website.

Ansan City provides various benefits under the slogan of ‘Ansan City City Will Raise Children With You.’

It is sincerely hoped that the low birthrate issue of South Korea will be resolved as soon as possible through a supportive and generous environment for childbirth and child rearing.