Kim Joon Young and Sagong Hye Ran, a couple from the Gyeonggi Province, are set to receive at least ₩170 million KRW (about $ 128,000 USD) in grants from the Korean government after welcoming quintuplets.
Korea’s falling birthrate has made childbirth a national issue, with the government enacting policies to encourage young couples to have children. So, when Kim and Sagong welcomed two girls and three boys on Friday, September 20, it made headlines. This is the first natural quintuplet birth in South Korea.
However, the attention soon shifted to the total amount of grants the couple would be receiving from different governments for childcare. Firstly, the city of Dongducheon, where the couple are from, will be providing them ₩15.0 million KRW (about $ 11,300 USD) in cash vouchers. These vouchers can be used at any store within the city with annual sales of less than ₩1.00 billion KRW (about $ 756,000 USD).
In addition, the city will also provide ₩3.50 million KRW (about $ 2,640 USD) in cash vouchers for postnatal care support. Dongducheon’s childbirth promotion package also offers a sum of ₩1.00 million KRW (about $ 756 USD) for the first child, ₩1.50 million KRW (about $ 1,130 USD) for the second, ₩2.50 million KRW (about $ 1,890 USD) for the third, and ₩5.00 million KRW (about $ 3,780 USD) for the fourth and beyond. If the sequential amount is applied in this case, the couple could receive ₩15.0 million KRW (about $ 11,300 USD) from this package.
The couple is also eligible for the Welfare Ministry’s First Meeting Voucher worth ₩14.0 million KRW (about $ 10,600 USD) and two monthly subsidies that include a parental allowance and a children’s allowance. These two subsidies amount to ₩85.0 million KRW (about $ 64,200 USD) and ₩47.5 million KRW (about $ 35,900 USD), respectively. But these two allowances will be given over the period of the program, with ₩1.00 million KRW (about $ 756 USD) per month for each child for the first 11 months after birth. After that, it drops to ₩500,000 KRW (about $ 378 USD) a month for the next 11 months.
The couple will also receive a children’s allowance of ₩100,000 KRW (about $ 75.60 USD) a month for each child from their birth until they are 95 months old.
While the news of the quintuplets has been a joyous one for the country, many netizens were left wondering if the total amount of grants would be enough to raise five children in the current economy.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sent a congratulatory letter and a gift to the couple on September 22. Later, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education also sent them a fruit basket and a congratulatory message. They also made public posts, vowing to work hard to make a better future for the five children.
Source: Chosun Ilbo
