Gyeonggi Province Strengthens Low Birth Rate Measures, Drastically Expanding Childcare Facilities

Gyeonggi Province will strengthen low birth rate countermeasures beginning in 2007 by significantly increasing extended-hours childcare facilities and providing operational subsidies.

Additionally, starting in the second half, transit discounts will be introduced for buses and subways connecting Seoul, Incheon, and other capital region areas, and the admission fee for Namhansanseong will be abolished.

To ease the childcare burden on dual-income couples, beginning next year the province will provide operational subsidies of up to 200,000 won per month—covering heating, cooling, and electricity costs—for extended-hours childcare facilities operating until 9 p.m. or later. Additionally, 265 new extended-hours childcare facilities will be added next year, bringing the current total of 315 to 580.

Support for low-income single-parent households will also be increased, providing 100,000 won (up from the existing 60,000 won) in basic necessities twice yearly at 50,000 won per distribution, and 15,000 won per person monthly (up from the existing 14,000 won) in learning materials.

Mother-child welfare facilities will expand from the current four locations—Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Bucheon, and Yeoju—to six facilities with the addition of Yongin and Gunpo.

The monthly child care allowance for disabled children, currently 70,000 won per person, will be significantly increased with expanded support scope. Among basic livelihood recipients, severely disabled persons will receive 200,000 won per person monthly, and beginning next year, severely disabled persons among the lower-middle class will also receive 150,000 won per person monthly, strengthening welfare support.

As international marriages increase in rural areas, the province will conduct pilot projects for female immigrant family support programs in Icheon, Gimpo, Paju, and Yeoncheon. Female immigrants and their children will be provided not only with Korean language education but also opportunities to experience traditional Korean culture.

With Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province reaching agreement on an integrated public transportation fare system, all three cities and the province will offer transit discount benefits beginning in the second half of next year regardless of where residents travel by bus or subway, reducing household expenses.

Additionally, the admission fee for Namhansanseong, which was 1,000 won for adults and 300 won for children, will be abolished, with the full operating budget for the park covered by provincial funds.

To establish basic library policies considering Gyeonggi Province's characteristics and to support and facilitate cooperation among libraries in the province, a 'representative library' will be designated and operated. The representative library will develop staff training and specialized programs to lead other libraries.

To heighten livestock farmers' awareness of disease prevention responsibilities, compensation for bovine brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease, will be reduced from the current 80 percent of appraised value to 60 percent.

Additionally, approximately 38,000 manufacturing businesses in the province can now resolve land-related civil complaints with a single phone call.

The province will assign dedicated assistants in cadastral matters such as land division, consolidation, land category change, and registration conversion, and in land matters such as foreign land acquisition, public land prices, development charges, and land transaction permits, as well as in surveying matters including division, boundaries, and current conditions, to resolve complaints on the spot.

Furthermore, with the implementation of the 'Road Name Address and Labeling Act,' effective April, the address of Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office will change from the current location at 3-1 Maesan-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon to 63 Docheongeap-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon.