Local government offers higher incentives to tackle falling birth rates
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/ Yonhap
By Lee Ji-hye
A local office will raise childbirth grants starting next year to encourage fertility rates.
The Hoengseong-gun office of Gangwon province agreed on Thursday to provide 1 million won for every second child and 10.8 million won for the third child of families in the area.
This is an increase from 500,000 won for the second child, and 7.2 million for the third child.
"The low birthrate in the farming area is really serious," said Jung Yeon-deok, from the district's health center, in a press release.
"We know that offering an expanded amount of childbirth grants won’t make a difference instantly, but we want the people of Hoengseong to know that we will continue to make efforts to help pregnant women and their children."
The Hoengseong-gun office is particularly concerned about the aging population.
"A whole year would go by and not a single baby's cry could be heard," Jung said.
"Our nation is infamous for low birth rates, and the countryside is even worse, which is why we are the most concerned area."
The increase will take effect on January 1.
Hoengseong's birthrate has been plunging with 257 babies born in 2012, 209 in 2013 and 177 this year.