The South Korean government will provide 1 million won to couples who register their marriage starting next year, regardless of their income. This cash support aims to ensure that all newlyweds benefit, regardless of their financial situation.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on September 1 that the 2027 budget proposal, which includes this initiative, was approved during a Cabinet meeting. The budget for next year is set at 21.191 trillion won, a 5.5% increase from this year's 20.87 trillion won.
To alleviate the financial burden on newlyweds, a new 'marriage support fund' of 166.3 billion won has been allocated. Couples who register their marriage after January 1 will be eligible for this support, receiving 500,000 won per person, totaling 1 million won per couple. This benefit can be claimed only once in a lifetime.
Support for single-parent families will also be expanded. The eligibility criteria for child-rearing allowances will be relaxed from 65% to 66% of the median income, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 257,000 to 270,000. Additionally, a 'pre-parenting allowance' of 230,000 won per month will be provided for three months to unmarried and single parents preparing for childbirth.
The budget for supporting single-person households and families with immigrant backgrounds will increase by 28.7 billion won. Universal support for family relationship education and single-person household assistance will be strengthened, along with specialized support for the stable settlement of immigrant families.
To eliminate disparities in child care services based on children's ages, the government will increase the support rate for households with school-aged children by 5-10%. Specialized care projects tailored to local conditions will be implemented, and training for child care service providers will be expanded to improve service quality.
In the youth sector, efforts will focus on identifying and supporting at-risk youth. A central counseling center for youth will be established, with 3.8 billion won allocated for an integrated management system. Currently, local counseling center staff handle both administrative and counseling duties, but starting next year, 12 dedicated personnel will be assigned to minimize wait times.
Furthermore, counseling management for various crisis types, including suicide, self-harm, isolation, and withdrawal, will be enhanced. The number of youth independence support centers will increase from 13 to 14, and recovery support facilities will expand from 18 to 20. An additional 50 youth independence support allowances of 500,000 won per month will be provided.
The government will also enhance its capacity to respond to new forms of sexual violence, including digital sexual violence and intimate partner violence. To proactively address the distribution of illegal filming materials, 1 billion won will be invested in an AI-based deep analysis system. A new allocation of 150 million won will be dedicated to research analyzing the causes of fatal incidents related to intimate partner violence. Legal support for victims of violence will increase from 1.5 million won to 2.5 million won per case.
The public sanitary pad program, which was piloted this year, will be expanded nationwide next year. The number of departments with gender equality policy officers will increase from 9 to 24, and regional forums promoting gender balance among the youth will be held in three regions: central, Honam, and Gyeongsang.
Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyung stated, “We plan to implement policies that expand support for diverse families, assist in child care and upbringing, protect youth, and promote healthy growth, while also preventing violence and supporting the swift recovery of victims, ensuring that the public can feel and relate to these policies.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.