Year of the Horse! Making the Lives of Gyeonggi Residents More Prosperous and Happy

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province is implementing new administrative systems and policies to make the lives of its residents more prosperous as 2026 approaches.

First, from January 1, the province will support 50% of toll fees for all vehicles using the Ilsan Bridge. A congratulatory welfare points package worth 500,000 won will be provided to 2,880 young newlywed couples residing in Gyeonggi Province as a celebration of their marriages. The veteran honor allowance paid to veterans of the Korean War and Vietnam War will be increased from 600,000 won annually to 800,000 won.

The province will continue the pilot program for a 4.5-day work week targeting small and medium-sized enterprises, recruiting 30 new participating companies. The Gyeonggi Climate Insurance, which was first introduced this year, will expand its coverage to include 2 million won payments in cases of death due to heat-related or cold-related illnesses and climate-related accidents.

The major administrative systems and policies of Gyeonggi Province that will change next year will be introduced focusing on seven major sectors: welfare and health, women and education, labor and economy, agriculture and fisheries, environment and transportation, culture and safety, etc.

1. Welfare and Health Sector

▲ Increase in Gyeonggi Province Veteran Honor Allowance

The veteran honor allowance paid to Korean War and Vietnam War veterans residing in Gyeonggi Province will be increased from 600,000 won annually to 800,000 won. Accordingly, the Gyeonggi Province veteran honor allowance has been increased 207% during the eighth term of the civilian-led government: 260,000 won in 2022, 400,000 won from 2023-2024, 600,000 won in 2025, and 800,000 won in 2026.

▲ Gyeonggi Very Low Credit Loan 2.0 Implementation in First Half

The Gyeonggi Very Low Credit Loan 2.0, an improved version to make it easier and more effective for residents to use, will be implemented in the first half of 2026.

The Gyeonggi Very Low Credit Loan 1.0 started accepting applications in April 2020 and supported emergency living funds up to 3 million won at a low interest rate of 1% annually for residents with low credit ratings who had difficulty accessing institutional financing until 2022.

The Very Low Credit Loan 2.0 changes the existing method of repaying a maximum of 3 million won over 5 years to repaying a maximum of 2 million won over up to 10 years. For Loan 1.0, a dedicated organization was established within the Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation to focus on post-lending management. With 2.0, counseling is provided before loan support, followed by comprehensive post-loan management including finance, employment, and welfare.

▲ Integrated Care Implementation in 31 Cities and Counties

Following the implementation of the 'Integrated Care Support Act' in March 2026, integrated care will begin in all 31 cities and counties. When care is needed, residents can apply at their local eup, myeon, or dong offices, and after undergoing integrated assessment, comprehensive services including health care, health management, long-term care, and daily care will be provided in an integrated manner.

▲ Gyeonggi Immigrant Portal

An immigrant digital platform will be launched featuring multilingual counseling functions based on generative AI to provide customized guidance in areas such as residency, labor, and daily life. Through location-based community operations, the platform will also provide community-specific information on local medical institutions, educational institutions, and cultural events tailored to residents' needs.

▲ School Enrollment Guidance for Foreign Children

Elementary school enrollment guidance will be provided to 6-year-old foreign children who were excluded from mandatory school attendance notification and left in an educational blind spot. Participation has expanded from 21 cities and counties last year to all 31 cities and counties this year, and enrollment notices in 20 languages will be sent to a total of 3,629 children.

▲ Childcare Support Payment for Unregistered Foreign Children

Unregistered foreign children refer to children living in the country without legal residency status. The province will now provide the monthly 100,000 won childcare support payment that was previously only given to registered foreign children to unregistered foreign children in Gyeonggi Province as well, guaranteeing equal childcare rights.

▲ Expansion of Treatment Improvement Allowance Support for Social Welfare Facility Workers

To promote the welfare of social welfare facility workers and improve the quality of social welfare services, the recipients of treatment improvement allowance—currently paid at 50,000 won per person monthly and 600,000 won annually—will expand from social welfare facility and social welfare project implementation organization workers to include workers at nonprofit corporations and organizations, social welfare corporations, social welfare councils, community safety councils, and institutions established by provincial or municipal ordinances. Additionally, a monthly wellness allowance of 20,000 won and long-service bonuses of 50,000 won annually for workers with five or more years of service at their facilities will be newly established.

2. Women and Education Sector

▲ Family Care Allowance Support

The family care allowance is a project that acknowledges the value of care and reduces the burden of child-rearing by providing allowances (300,000 won monthly for one child, 450,000 won for two children, 600,000 won for three children) when relatives within the fourth degree or neighbors, including grandparents, provide care for at least 40 hours monthly to families with children aged 24-36 months with care gaps, and whose household income is at or below 150% of the median income. The number of participating cities and counties will increase from 14 as of the second half of this year to 26 next year.

* Seongnam, Yongin, Hwaseong, Namyangju, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Anyang, Paju, Uijeongbu, Gwangju, Gwangmyeong, Hanam, Gunpo, Osan, Yangju, Icheon, Guri, Anseong, Uiwang, Pocheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Dongducheon, Gwacheon, Gapyeong, Yeoncheon

▲ Free Book Delivery Service for the Disabled (Nationwide)

'Gyeonggi Duru Duru,' a free book delivery service for the disabled and others who find it difficult to visit libraries, will be transitioned to 'Book Wings Service' provided by the National Library for the Disabled. The 'Book Wings Service' delivers books to homes without monthly usage limits, with the number of books and loan periods determined by each providing library's regulations. Support for small library operations will also increase from 798 facilities this year to 844 facilities.

▲ Gyeonggi Restart School

The Gyeonggi Restart School, which supports Gyeonggi residents aged 19 and older who are preparing for a fresh start after experiencing job search or startup failures, will expand from four sessions annually to five sessions and from 200 students to 250 students. The school provides healing workshops, job skill enhancement training, and action plan establishment support.

▲ Gyeonggi Young Newlyweds Marriage Congratulation Welfare Points / Medicare Plus Project

Congratulatory welfare points worth 500,000 won will be provided to celebrate the marriages of 2,880 young newlywed couples residing in Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, approximately 4,400 young people residing in Gyeonggi Province will receive support of up to 200,000 won per person for health checkups and vaccinations.

▲ Universal Menstrual Product Support for Female Adolescents in Gyeonggi Province

The universal menstrual product support project that provides 14,000 won monthly for purchasing menstrual products to female teenagers aged 11-18 residing in Gyeonggi Province will expand from 24 cities and counties this year to 27 cities and counties.

* Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Anyang, Siheung, Gimpo, Paju, Uijeongbu, Gwangju, Hanam, Gwangmyeong, Gunpo, Yangju, Osan, Icheon, Anseong, Guri, Uiwang, Pocheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Dongducheon, Gwacheon, Gapyeong, Yeoncheon

▲ Emergency 112 Report Violence Victim Support Barohope Team

The Barohope Team is a specialized task force that provides customized support including initial counseling, case assessment, referrals to specialized organizations, welfare resource information provision, and legal consultation to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence reported through 112, as well as their families. Counselors, social workers, and police officers work together in one location. The number of participating cities and counties will expand from 13 to 16, and safe accommodations will be provided for victims.

* Bucheon, Hanam, Gimpo, Ansan, Paju, Hwaseong, Osan, Gwacheon, Anseong, Yangpyeong, Pocheon, Gwangmyeong, Gwangju, Pyeongtaek, Gapyeong, Yangju

▲ Always Open Childcare Centers

For parents (guardians) with children aged 6 months to 7 years (pre-school), Always Open Childcare Centers will expand from 14 facilities to 16 facilities, allowing them to place their children in 365-day, 24-hour emergency care as needed.

* Goyang, Bucheon, Namyangju, Ansan, Anyang (2), Gimpo, Uijeongbu, Hanam, Gwangmyeong, Gunpo, Icheon, Pocheon (2), Gwangju, Paju

▲ Meal Support for Malnourished Children

The Gyeonggi children's meal support platform website 'Ssisat Bapsang' has been developed into a mobile app, making it more convenient for children and youth to obtain meal support cards, check card balances, and verify transaction history.

▲ Gyeonggi Middle-aged Intern (People-Turn) Camp

The gap year program that provides opportunities for life and career redesign to Gyeonggi residents aged 40-65 in life transition periods will expand its beneficiaries from 120 to 150 people. The regional tours conducted over a 2-night, 3-day period will expand from four existing locations (Paju, Inje, Namwon, and Goryeong) to five locations with the addition of one city or county within the province.

▲ Support for Minor Sexual Abuse Victims 'Discharged Independent Allowance' (Nationwide)

Minor sexual abuse victims will receive monthly discharged independent support allowance of 500,000 won for up to 12 months to prevent re-entry into sex trafficking and support successful independent social reintegration.

3. Labor, Industry, and Economy Sector

▲ Change in Gyeonggi Local Currency Merchant Registration Standards (Nationwide)

When registering as a local currency merchant, businesses previously required to have annual sales exceeding 1.2 billion won were restricted. Starting next year, businesses with annual sales up to 3 billion won can register as merchants. Detailed standards will be determined by each city and county within the 3 billion won range.

▲ Implementation of 4.5-Day Work Week

The province will continue the 4.5-day work week pilot program supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that have adopted reduced work hours policies with incentive payments at the level of the Gyeonggi living wage and workplace management system construction. As of late November, 107 companies participated, and next year the province will recruit 30 new companies. Additionally, new employment incentive funds will be created to provide an additional 800,000 won per person on top of existing support.

▲ Establishment of Gyeonggi Province U.S. Military SOFA Area Development Fund

The province will support 50% of land acquisition costs, development costs, and public infrastructure development costs for roads, parks, and rivers in SOFA areas in Hwaseong, Paju, Uijeongbu, Hanam, and Dongducheon.

▲ Corporate Ombudsman On-site Business Trouble Consulting

On-site consulting will be provided to small enterprises, one-person businesses, and small-scale micro-enterprises for business trouble counseling. The fields include general management, finance/financing, R&D;/design/certification, trade/tariffs, law, patents, personnel/labor, taxes/accounting, domestic and overseas marketing, and information systems/production management—10 fields in total.

▲ Gyeonggi Middle-aged Employment Campus

The province will support industry-academia cooperative job search, startup, and vocational training to respond to policy environment changes such as extended retirement ages and continued employment. The program targets 700 middle-aged people aged 40-65 in the province and is divided into employed, job-seeking, and startup courses.

4. Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Forestry Sector

▲ Gyeonggi Rural Basic Income Pilot Project National Expansion (Nationwide)

As the Gyeonggi rural basic income project expands into a government project, it will be operated experimentally in 8 provinces and 10 counties nationwide. In Gyeonggi Province, Yeoncheon County has been selected as a pilot project site, and basic income that was previously only paid to residents of Cheongsan-myeon will now be paid to all residents of Yeoncheon County starting next year. The basic income will be provided as 1.8 million won annually in local currency.

* Gyeonggi Yeoncheon; North Jeolla Sunchang, Jangsu; South Jeolla Sinan, Gokseong; North Gyeongsang Yeongyang; South Gyeongsang Namhae; South Chungcheong Cheongyang; Gangwon Jeongseon; North Chungcheong Okcheon

▲ Children's Fruit Snack Supply (Nationwide)

A new program providing domestically produced fruits to students participating in after-school care and education programs (grades 1-2) will begin. Snacks of approximately 150 grams individually packaged in cups or pouches will be supplied about 30 times annually. A separate health fruit supply project for children aged 0-6 and attending childcare centers or home-based care will continue as an independent Gyeonggi Province project.

▲ Operation of Gyeonggi Province Public Animal Cremation and Burial Facilities

The Gyeonggi Province public animal cremation and burial facility will be established at반려마루 Yeoju (Sangeomyeon, Yeoju City) and is scheduled to begin operations around February. The public animal cremation and burial facility will consist of a memorial hall (3 rooms), cremation facilities (2 units), and enshrinement facilities (408 units).

▲ Operation of Gyeonggi Province Pet Bonding Program

A pet bonding activity program open to any Gyeonggi Province resident will be operated. Through operating the animal bonding program to foster proper pet culture, approximately 15 participants per session and about 160 sessions annually are planned.

5. Environment, Urban Development, Transportation, and Construction Sector

▲ Ilsan Bridge Toll Support of 50%

Starting January 1, Gyeonggi Province will support 50% of toll fees for all vehicles passing through the Ilsan Bridge tollgate. Accordingly, toll fees will be reduced: Class 1 from 1,200 won to 600 won; Classes 2-3 from 1,800 won to 900 won; Classes 4-5 from 2,400 won to 1,200 won; and Class 6 from 600 won to 300 won.

▲ Expansion of Gyeonggi Climate Insurance Coverage Items

Gyeonggi Province climate insurance coverage will be expanded. For infectious disease diagnosis, a payment of 100,000 won has been made; however, the diagnostic criteria will expand from 8 types to 10 types, including Zika virus. New coverage items will include 2 million won payment in case of death due to heat-related or cold-related illness or climate-related accidents, and 100,000 won coverage for emergency room treatment.

▲ Expansion of Climate Action Opportunity Income

The province plans to expand the beneficiaries of climate action opportunity income from residents aged 7 and older in Gyeonggi Province to university students in Gyeonggi Province with residency elsewhere. Additionally, as an independent Gyeonggi Province project that provides up to 60,000 won annually, some cities and counties (12) plan to provide additional support using their own budgets. Implementation will proceed sequentially from cities and counties that have secured budgets.

6. Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Disaster Safety Sector

▲ Expansion of Gyeonggi Culture Pass

The 'Gyeonggi Culture Pass,' which supports cultural consumption including movies, performances, exhibitions, sports, accommodations, and activities for Gyeonggi residents' cultural enjoyment, will expand its affiliated fields to a total of 8 fields including books and web novels. Per-person annual support will increase from 25,000 won to 60,000 won, with sector-specific support amounts also increased: accommodations 30,000 won, performances 8,000 won and 20,000 won, movies 6,000 won and 10,000 won, and other sectors 10,000 won.

▲ Gyeonggi Vulnerable Population Housing Fire Safety Insurance Support

Through amendments to the Gyeonggi Province residential fire damage and fire safety insurance support ordinance, the province will support housing fire safety insurance enrollment for basic livelihood security recipients and those slightly above the poverty line residing in single-family homes or apartments registered with the province. Key coverage includes up to 30 million won for house damage and up to 7 million won for household goods damage.

▲ Ahn Jung-geun Peace Center Operation

The Ahn Jung-geun Peace Center is scheduled to open around September within the Imjingak Peace Nuri complex in Paju. Activities will include exhibitions of Ahn Jung-geun's calligraphy, operation of related experience and educational programs, and production and sales of Ahn Jung-geun commemorative merchandise.

▲ Fire Safety Equipment Illegal Act Report Reward System

Illegal act reporting targets will expand from blocked emergency exits to blocked emergency exits and fire safety equipment. The payment limit per person will also increase from 5 reports monthly to 10 reports, and a new system allowing reward products to be provided once monthly for more than 10 reports will be established.

▲ Fire Prevention Safety Product Support

Fire suppression equipment for small spaces in distribution and power panels and emergency evacuation action manuals will be prioritized for 644 small-scale accommodation facilities in Gyeonggi Province with fewer than 5 floors and no sprinkler systems. Additionally, smoke detectors will be provided free of charge to apartments with construction permits issued before December 31, 2004, where children under 13, seniors 65 and older, or people with disabilities reside and where sprinkler systems or detectors are not installed in the units.

7. General Administration Sector

▲ AI Registration System

The AI registration system is a system that discloses information on AI-utilized services promoted by Gyeonggi Province, cities and counties, and public institutions. Information on the applied fields, technical types, data used, and data sources of AI projects in the province can be checked on a dedicated webpage (url.kr/6rcp5q).

▲ Payment of Compensation for Damage from North Korean Loudspeaker Broadcasts

Gyeonggi Province plans to provide compensation payments in the first half to residents who have suffered damage from North Korean loudspeaker broadcasts and other noise in Paju and Gimpo.