Funds to expand integrated care hubs, pregnancy and childbirth services, and indoor play and emergency childcare facilities

[123RF]
[123RF]

The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Monday that it has selected 10 local governments for its 2026 region-tailored low birth rate response project, providing a combined 5 billion won ($3.74 million) in special local allocation tax grants.

The initiative was launched to address gaps in pregnancy, childbirth and childcare services across regions and to build infrastructure that meets local residents' needs.

The ministry reviewed 28 applications submitted by cities, counties and districts nationwide between May 15 and July 14, ultimately selecting 10 projects.

The selected areas are Dong-gu and Damyang-gun in South Jeolla Province, Nam-gu in Daegu, Dong-gu in Daejeon, Sejong, Danyang-gun and Yeongdong-gun in North Chungcheong Province, Gochang-gun in North Jeolla Province, Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province.

Each selected area will receive up to 500 million won in special local allocation tax grants based on the amount requested, with additional funds allocated to Danyang-gun in North Chungcheong Province, which ranked highest in the final evaluation.

Six of the selected areas are designated population-decline zones and three are classified as attention areas. Among general areas, Sejong was chosen for having the highest share of children aged zero to five relative to total population among all metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide, at 4.9 percent.

The ministry said it expects the project to improve access to essential services in population-decline areas and to expand childcare infrastructure in regions with high demand for infant and toddler care.

After projects get under way, the ministry plans to monitor progress at each stage — from site selection and design through ground-breaking, completion and operation — and to share successful cases with other local governments.

Jin Myeong-gi, director general of the ministry's Autonomous Innovation Bureau, said filling gaps in pregnancy, childbirth and childcare services within residents' daily living areas is essential to addressing the low birth rate. "We will continue to support and oversee the implementation process so that the selected projects can take root as locally tailored support infrastructure that residents can genuinely feel in their everyday lives," he said.


thlee@heraldcorp.com