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$$ for Babies in Namwon - Good on you Korea!

 
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liveinkorea316



Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:02 am    Post subject: $$ for Babies in Namwon - Good on you Korea! Reply with quote

Now this is what I call really trying to do something about the birthrate problem in Korea. The only problem is that the population is only 104,198 and what is the bet that the birthrate problem in Namwon is due more to people leaving the city rather than not having babies. But I will tell you what - it might actually attract people to settle there.

Quote:
Namwon bumps up baby bonus

Written by bbj Saturday, 16 October 2010 14:08

In order to fight against the plunging birthrate, Namwon has ratified a new baby bonus program. They have raised the amount, and introduced assistance for the first child. Now, monthly assistance for the first baby is 500,000 won; the second is 1 million won, the third is 2 million won; and if you have a fourth baby in Namwon, the government will support you to the tune of 4 million won per month. This is in addition to subsidized fertility clinics, prenatal care centers, breastfeeding clinics and nutrition support programs all offered to encourage procreation. Namwon is pleading with its citzens, "Don't go forth; but multiply." Courtesy, Jeonbuk Ilbo.


http://www.thejeonjuhub.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1150-namwon-offers-baby-bonus.html
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visitorq



Joined: 11 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What a waste of money. As if anything the government provides is ever "free"... (basically if everyone had 3 kids, they'd be paying more in taxes than they'd be receiving in so called "bonuses", with most of the money being eaten up by gov't bureaucracy). Cutting taxes for people with children, on the other hand, would make perfect sense.
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Fox



Joined: 04 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:17 pm    Post subject: Re: $$ for Babies in Namwon - Good on you Korea! Reply with quote

liveinkorea316 wrote:
Now this is what I call really trying to do something about the birthrate problem in Korea. The only problem is that the population is only 104,198 and what is the bet that the birthrate problem in Namwon is due more to people leaving the city rather than not having babies. But I will tell you what - it might actually attract people to settle there.


It might attract people looking specifically to have babies to settle there, but I also might drive away people who would have otherwise stayed as their taxes go up to support these quite hefty child support payments. 500,000 a month per baby for a city-level government isn't cheap (unless very few people take advantage of the program, in which case it's cheap but a failure at its intended goal).
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BoholDiver



Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

4 million a month? For 4 kids? That's nuts.

500,000 won is a big bonus for someone like me who would have had a kid regardless.
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Kimchi Cha Cha



Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In 15 years Namwon will be a city full of chavs!! Laughing
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BoholDiver



Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd like to know until what age they offer this bonus.

If it's until 18, good deal.
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liveinkorea316



Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Having read the original article in Korean I think the person who translated for the Jeonjju Hub was incorrect. It doesn't say anything about a monthly payment in the Original article, it just mentions a baby grant. Which makes it seem that it is in fact a one off payment and not a monthly subsidy.

Too good to be true I guess.
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, a one time payment isn't enough. Depends on how much it is. Will it cover the cost of birth and some basic medical care? Perhaps, also some expenses for the first couple of years. The key would be to attract some younger families. There is some beautiful scenery there, but not a very sophisticated place. Nothing there of convenience. A tiny E-Mart only slightly larger than a local Mart. They did have an offer of a larger Lotte Mart to come in. But the locals fight it tooth and nail. If they woul quit being so hostile to development and also build some biking and walking trails from the downtown to the edge of Jirisan National Park, it might make it a more pleasant place to live. The place has potential but certaintly doesn't live up to what it could be. But driving to Jeonju or Gwangju to shop puts the place at an inconvenience for young families. Also many leave and move to Jeonju once the kids reach middle school because they feel there are not enough good academies there. They also had a moritorium on new buldings for a long time. But, there may be some new apartments being built now and some new one rooms perhaps. Anyhew, best of luck to them.
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plus the population has been shrinking. SO, official stats on Wikipedia or where ever are not accurate. Population might be closer to 90,000 in 2010. Maybe 50 to 60 k in the city core and the rest spread through the countryside. Must be the smallest legally defined "city" in Korea. Seemed more like a gun. I had visited there several times over the past couple of years since I liked some of the scenery of the mountains.
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jvalmer



Joined: 06 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Weigookin74 wrote:
Must be the smallest legally defined "city" in Korea. Seemed more like a gun.

I think mungyeong might give namwon as the smallest legally defined city in Korea. Anyways, once a place gains city status it doesn't lose it.
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jvalmer wrote:
Weigookin74 wrote:
Must be the smallest legally defined "city" in Korea. Seemed more like a gun.

I think mungyeong might give namwon as the smallest legally defined city in Korea. Anyways, once a place gains city status it doesn't lose it.


For sure. If you decide to go there. Find a good spring weekend or fall weekend. You can put your MTB under the bus. Just take off the front tire and fold it in. Near the (Seoul) bus terminal, there are many motels. Go over to city hall and get a map. Look on the map and you can go through the countryside to Ibaek Myeon through Jucheon Myeon. Or if you're really adventureous go over to the inner city terminal and put your bike under the bus and go to Inwol Myeon. You can bike back from Inwol Myeon to Namwon city (through Ibaek Myeon). It's a good scenic bike ride and a good weekend getaway if you're into long distance biking.
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