"3 Million Won for First Child, 10 Million for Third"... Taean County Raises Childbirth Incentives Fivefold

Births plunge 64% in 10 years
Taean County to raise childbirth incentives fivefold

Taean County in South Chungcheong Province will strengthen welfare policies for each stage of life to address low birth rates and an aging population, including by raising childbirth incentives and expanding jobs for older adults.

According to Taean County on October 21, residents aged 65 and older accounted for 41% (24,165 people) of the county's population as of September. This is roughly twice the national share of 22.1% and the South Chungcheong Province share of 24.4%. Meanwhile, the annual number of births fell 64%, from 355 in 2016 to 128 last year.

In response, the county plans to raise childbirth incentives starting next year from 500,000 won to 3 million won for a first child, from 1 million won to 5 million won for a second child, and from 2 million won to 10 million won for a third or subsequent child.

The childbirth incentives will be paid in installments, with half of the benefit provided as mobile Taean Sarang gift certificates. The county will also provide a monthly family caregiving allowance of 300,000 won per child when a relative within the fourth degree of kinship cares for a child aged 2 or 3 for at least 40 hours a month in a household with income at or below 150% of the median income.

In elder welfare, the county will expand the number of senior centers receiving weekday lunch support five days a week from 38 this year to 50 next year. It plans to invest 27.145 billion won next year to create 6,075 jobs for older adults and expand jobs in healthcare, caregiving and safety. It will also add 48 AI-powered care robots for older adults living alone and others, bringing the total number of households receiving support to 100.

In addition, the county plans to introduce hands-on activities for children focused on AI ethics and robotics at the Family Empathy Center, and to offer AI-based creative activities and community-linked programs at the Youth Training Center.

Jang Gilsu, head of Taean County's Family Policy Division, said, "We will continue to listen carefully to people in the field and make Taean a happier place for all residents, from children to older adults, through our welfare policies."

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