CRI

 [ABSTRACT]

Chungbuk has been implementing various policies related to pregnancy and childbirth since the eighth civil election. Among them, the representative pledge is to pay 10 million won in childbirth and childcare allowance in installments over five to six years, starting with those born on January 1, 2023. According to Statistics Korea's Population Trends Survey, in 2023, Chungbuk was the only local government to record an increase in the number of births, total fertility rate, and crude birth rate. This study examines the perceptions of maternity benefits among households applying for maternity benefits in 2023 to set the direction of Chungbuk's maternity benefits policy.

When looking at childbirth subsidy policies in other countries, Japan first provides maternity and childcare benefits and maternity allowances based on health insurance to reduce the financial burden of childbirth. In addition, the Baby First program provides 50,000 yen worth of points per child as a maternity support gift from the expectant mother's country at the time of pregnancy, and 100,000 yen worth of points per child after the birth of the child by combining 50,000 yen from the country's maternity support gift and 50,000 yen from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, regardless of income.

Through its Baby Bonus program, Singapore provides support to Singapore citizens when they give birth to a child, including a Baby Bonus Cash Gift and a Child development Account (CDA). The cash gift is SGD 11,000 for the first and second child up to the age of 6.5, and SGD 13,000 for the third child and above. The Child Development Account is a special co-savings account for children of Singapore citizens, which is divided into non-matched and matched Baby Grant funds. The money saved in the CDA can be used for fees at registered childcare centres/preschools/special schools/early education programs, medical treatment at hospitals and other healthcare facilities, MediShield or MediSave premiums, assistive technology devices, glasses/contact lenses, pharmacy health food, etc.

Korea has a system of first-time passes, parental allowance, family allowance, child allowance and low-income maternity support (Child Benefit, Child Development Support Account, Diaper Formula Support), as well as various deductions and discounts.

The city of Seoul provides support for pregnant women through the Birth Cheer Project, which includes support for pregnant women's transportation expenses, postpartum care expenses in Seoul, total care for mothers' bodies and minds, and multiple fetal safety insurance. From 2025, the city will provide maternity benefits of KRW 900,000 to self-employed and freelance pregnant women, and KRW 800,000 in maternity leave support to self-employed and freelance women with pregnant spouses (regardless of the occupation of the pregnant spouse). Gyeonggi-do provides maternity benefits and childcare support by ordinance, while Chungbuk provides postpartum care for pregnant women, transportation support for pregnant women, and childcare allowances.

A perception survey was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the maternity benefit, and it was found that the policies most in demand by families planning to have additional children were economic support such as reducing the burden of housing costs and reducing the burden of childcare (education) costs. The extent to which the maternity benefit contributed to reducing economic burdens was 4.01, overall satisfaction with the maternity benefit was 3.68, and the level of maternity benefit support should be increased was 4.33. In addition, the extent to which the maternity benefit was expected to delay the decline in the fertility rate was 3.82, and the effect on population growth (inflow) was 3.77.

In order to respond to these demands, the direction of the maternity and childcare allowance system is to adjust the amount and method of support, provide automatic application and notification information for maternity and childcare allowance, and establish data based on a national survey.