(C) Buk-gu District Office of Gwangju Metropolitan City

GWANGJU – In a proactive move to foster a more inclusive child-rearing environment and alleviate the financial burden on families, the Buk-gu District Office of Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on Sunday that it will resume its "Paternal Childcare Leave Subsidy" program for 2026.

According to the district office, applications for the subsidy will be accepted starting January 26. This initiative is specifically designed to encourage fathers to participate more actively in childcare by providing direct financial assistance to male employees who take a leave of absence for parenting duties.

Key Details of the Support Program
The program offers a monthly stipend of 300,000 KRW for a maximum period of three months, totaling up to 900,000 KRW per individual. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Timeline: Men who applied for childcare leave after January 1, 2025.
Duration: Applicants must have been on leave for at least one month, or have completed their leave within the last 12 months.
Residency: Both the father and the child must be registered residents of Buk-gu. The father must have maintained residency for at least six consecutive months as of the application date.
Insurance: Applicants must be eligible for childcare leave benefits under the National Employment Insurance Act.

Rising Popularity and Limited Slots
The district has allocated a total budget of 54 million KRW, which is intended to support 60 applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the high demand in previous years, local authorities anticipate a swift application process.

Last year, Buk-gu became the first municipality in Gwangju to introduce this system. The program's popularity was so high that the initial budget was exhausted within a single month, eventually requiring the district to secure supplementary funding to accommodate the surge of applicants.

Commitment to a "Parenting-Friendly" City
Moon In, the Head of Buk-gu District, emphasized the social importance of the initiative. "We hope this program will increase male participation in childcare and help establish a culture where work and family life are harmoniously balanced," Moon stated. "We will continue to actively pursue projects that residents can truly feel the impact of, aiming to build a city that is genuinely supportive of child-rearing."

Interested residents can apply exclusively online through the Gov24 (정부24) portal.