“People who have children should be hailed as heroes”... Nucksal, a father of two boys, on ‘child-rearing subsidies’ [What do you think?]

[Financial News] Rapper Nucksal, a father of two, has strongly criticized the government’s measures to address the low birth rate and its cash-based childcare subsidy system on a broadcast, sparking heated online debate over the effectiveness of the policies.
On the 17th, online communities and YouTube channels including “Hello Hanssemyo” reported that Nucksal had appeared in a recently released video, where he discussed government benefits for childbirth and child-rearing and called for a dramatic expansion of support.
Nucksal, the father of two boys, brought up the current parental allowance and other benefits, saying, “You get 1 million won a month in child-rearing support for a year, but I heard that next year it will switch to a lump-sum payment.” He went on to criticize the eligibility threshold for benefits for families with multiple children, saying, “Meaningful benefits only really start with the third child,” and raised his voice: “To be honest, this country still hasn’t come to its senses.”
Citing the threat of national extinction, he argued, “With the country’s collapse not far off, how does it make sense that these are the only benefits available? At this point, we should be hailing people who have children as heroes—and even that wouldn’t be too much.” He added, “For people who are financially comfortable, having a child may be a choice, but families who have a child unexpectedly or are struggling financially can’t raise a child properly with short-term support at the current level.”
After his remarks became public, heated debate erupted among internet users.
Those who agreed with Nucksal said that extraordinary support measures were unavoidable amid the severe low-birth-rate crisis. Internet users voiced their support, saying, “The birth rate is among the lowest in the world, and welfare constrained by existing frameworks can’t prevent the crisis,” and “To ease real fears such as career interruptions, housing costs and a shortage of childcare facilities, the government needs to commit far more public funds.”
Others, however, said Nucksal’s remarks were excessive and overlooked reality. Other internet users countered, “It’s not as if we’ve entrusted the country with our money, so it can’t provide unlimited support with tax revenue,” “Even compared with other developed countries, South Korea’s initial cash assistance is by no means small,” and “Getting people to have children based only on the amount of support is not a fundamental solution.”
One internet user who said they worked in child welfare offered the view that “South Korea’s child benefits themselves are not low compared with those of neighboring countries, but targeted, concentrated support to fill gaps in care for vulnerable groups is more urgently needed,” adding, “Tailored support and improvements to the child-rearing environment should take priority over universal cash handouts.”
Nucksal married a woman who is not in the entertainment industry in September 2022, and they have two sons, aged four and 10 months.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter