Incheon Metropolitan City Hall (Image courtesy of Incheon City)
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Incheon city announced on Thursday that over 17,100 pregnant women have applied for its transportation subsidy program since its launch in April. The initiative provides ₩500,000 in transportation assistance per eligible applicant, allocated via Incheon’s local currency platform, “Incheon e-Eum.”
The city initially set aside ₩5 billion for 12,500 women who became pregnant last year and remain pregnant in 2023. To extend the benefit to an additional 15,000 women who became pregnant this year, an extra ₩6 billion was added to the program’s budget.
In response to participant feedback, the application period has been extended from 12 weeks of pregnancy to one month postpartum, to three months postpartum. The program is part of Incheon’s broader pro-birth initiative, “I Plus One Billion Dream,” which has garnered positive public response.
Applications are processed through the government portal, Gov.kr, and the funds can be used for transportation-related expenses such as taxi fares, fuel costs, and public transit within one year of allocation.
Looking ahead, Incheon plans to launch the “Comfortable Moms Postpartum Care Support Program” in 2025. This new initiative targets vulnerable groups, including low-income households, people with disabilities, single-parent families, and young couples under 24, providing ₩1.5 million worth of support for postpartum care services.
Originally slated to build a public postpartum care center in Bupyeong District, the city shifted its focus to financial aid after recognizing the limited capacity of such facilities, which would have served only 300 individuals annually.
The city is finalizing administrative procedures, including amendments to local ordinances and budget allocations, to roll out the program starting January 1, 2025.
“Incheon remains committed to ensuring that expecting and new mothers have the resources they need for a safe and joyful parenting journey,” said Si Hyun-jung, head of the city’s Women and Family Bureau. She encouraged eligible individuals to take advantage of the transportation program before the application deadline.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
