Gyeongsangbuk-do to provide comprehensive support for marriage, childbirth, caregiving and housing

【Financial News, Andong = Kim Jang-uk】Gyeongsangbuk-do is stepping up efforts to provide comprehensive support for everything from marriage and childbirth to caregiving and housing.
Gyeongsangbuk-do reported an average progress rate of 77.3% in the third quarter for its “120 Action Tasks in the War on Low Birth Rates.” Of the 120 tasks across six areas, funded with 397.9 billion won this year, 95 (79.2%) have exceeded the target progress rate of 70%, expanding support for childbirth, caregiving, housing, and work-life balance.
Fifteen divisions and bureaus and 37 departments are taking part in implementing 120 action tasks across six areas. The average progress rate rose each quarter, from 34.2% in the first quarter to 55.8% in the second and 77.3% in the third.
Lee Sang-su, director of the Local Government Strategy Bureau, stressed, “We will continue to closely monitor the progress of each project and improve the effectiveness of our policies, building a comprehensive support system spanning everything from meeting people to marriage, childbirth, caregiving and housing.”
According to the province, 28 of the 30 tasks in the Happy Childbirth area met their target progress rates. The system of support for pregnancy and childbirth is being strengthened as planned through subsidies for fertility treatment for couples with male infertility, medical expense support for mothers aged 35 and older, and support for operating the infertility center at Andong Medical Center.
In the Comprehensive Care area, the Our Neighborhood Elementary School Vacation Care Center, the Integrated Care Information Service, and the Small Library Care Program for Raising Children Together all recorded a 100% progress rate. The K-Bodeum 6000 Project and the operation of emergency care centers for sick children are helping reduce gaps in care and ease the burden of raising children.
In the Safe Housing area, support for monthly rent for young people and newlyweds, interest support for newlyweds’ rental deposits, and interest support to help families with multiple children secure larger homes are easing housing costs.
In the Work-Life Balance area, the province is pursuing pay support to offset reduced working hours for parents during the childcare years, incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises introducing a 10 a.m. start-time system for mothers with elementary-school children, and support for farm-work assistants for farming households around childbirth.
The province has also expanded initiatives to support young people in meeting and marrying. Through Chilseok Gyeonu and Jiknyeo Meeting Day, small but special weddings, and support for newlyweds’ wedding and household setup costs, it is pursuing tailored policies to address low birth rates at each stage of life.
Meanwhile, the province’s Low Birth Rate Policy Evaluation Center analyzes budget execution rates, target achievement and policy effectiveness. Based on surveys of residents’ perceptions and expert consultations, it plans to identify highly effective projects and incorporate them into policy.

[email protected] Kim Jang-uk Reporter