Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin criticized the prioritization of government budgets on September 17, questioning, "We have no postpartum support for our children, but is there a budget for North Korean infants?"
In a post on his Facebook page, Mayor Shin highlighted the absence of the 500,000 won postpartum support for local families while pointing out the 155.8 billion won allocated for North Korean infant aid.
His comments suggest a need to reassess budget priorities in response to the low birth rate crisis.
Shin stated, "While the low birth rate is a national disaster that has everyone talking, our children are being overlooked," referring to the recent decision by Gyeonggi Province to halt postpartum support due to financial constraints.
Gyeonggi Province plans to stop providing 500,000 won in local currency to families with newborns after September 30, citing that this year's budget only covers nine months of support.
In contrast, Mayor Shin pointed out that the central government has allocated 155.8 billion won for aid programs targeting North Korean infants.
This year's total budget for North Korea-related support is 667.6 billion won, which includes 112.23 billion won for humanitarian aid and 555.38 billion won for civilian cooperation, with 155.81 billion won specifically for North Korean infants.
Shin emphasized, "Central government funds and local budgets are different, but if the system is flawed, it should be fixed. If the structure is different, the flow of the budget should be redirected; that is the role of the state."
He further asserted, "The top priority of the national budget should be our children, not North Korea on paper."
Shin's remarks align with his ongoing efforts to enhance Seongnam's childbirth and parenting support policies.
To alleviate the financial burden on families, he has expanded postpartum support. Starting in 2024, in addition to the existing 500,000 won from Gyeonggi Province, families with incomes at or below 80% of the median will receive up to an additional 500,000 won, bringing the total support to 1 million won.
Moreover, Mayor Shin believes that addressing the low birth rate issue requires not only encouraging childbirth but also providing tangible support that families can truly feel.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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