Newlyweds to receive W1m as gender equality ministry unveils record budget

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has set its budget for next year at 2.12 trillion won ($1.54 billion), with roughly 95 percent — or 104.5 billion won — of the 110.4 billion won net increase directed toward family policy. The plan introduces a new marriage support payment of up to 1 million won per couple regardless of age or income, and expands welfare benefits for single-parent families.

The ministry released its 2027 budget plan Tuesday, marking a 110.4 billion won increase, or 5.5 percent, over this year's base budget of 2.01 trillion won — the largest in the ministry's history.

By category, family policy support programs will receive 1.5 trillion won, a 7.5 percent increase from last year and the largest share of the budget. Gender equality policy is allocated 53.1 billion won, and administrative support 54.3 billion won. Budgets for employment equality (101.9 billion won), safety and human rights (142.7 billion won), and youth policy (262.6 billion won) were each trimmed slightly from last year.

A new marriage support payment will be introduced to ease the financial burden on newlyweds. Married couples will each receive 500,000 won, for a combined maximum of 1 million won per couple, with no age or income restrictions.

To support stable child-rearing in single-parent households, the eligibility threshold for child-rearing allowances will be raised from 65 percent to 66 percent of the median income standard, extending benefits to an additional 13,000 people. The ministry will also invest 100 million won in a program providing counseling and treatment costs for single parents with borderline intellectual disabilities.

A pilot program will offer unmarried single parents who are pregnant a monthly preparatory child-rearing allowance of 230,000 won for three months to help them prepare for childbirth and parenting.

The school-age and at-risk family support program will be reorganized under a new initiative called "Family for All," broadening its reach. In addition to existing beneficiaries, the program will assist single-person households with daily living and education, and provide programs to improve parent-child relationships.

Families with immigrant backgrounds will receive tailored services to help them settle into life in Korea. The "Family for All" initiative has been allocated 28.7 billion won.

The government will also lower barriers to its child-care service. The subsidy rate for households with school-age children will rise by 5 to 10 percentage points to reduce out-of-pocket costs, and a pilot region-specific care program linked to local care infrastructure will also be launched.

The budget for combating digital sexual violence and intimate partner violence will increase by 1.75 billion won next year.

The ministry will invest 1 billion won to introduce a new AI-based deep-analysis system for proactively detecting websites that distribute illegally filmed content. An additional 150 million won will fund research analyzing the causes and circumstances of fatal intimate partner violence cases, strengthening the evidence base for prevention policy.

The per-case fee for free legal support for violence victims will rise from 1.5 million won to 2.5 million won at the investigation and first-trial stages, with the related budget increasing by 400 million won.

To prevent secondary harm to sexual violence victims, the number of law enforcement personnel receiving training will double from 2,500 to 5,000, and victim-centered investigative support will be strengthened.

In the youth sector, 8.5 billion won will be added to fund the identification, protection and recovery of at-risk youth. The ministry will build an integrated management system for the Youth Counseling 1388 hotline and establish a central center to operate a 24-hour phone counseling service.

A free sanitary pad distribution program piloted this year will be rolled out nationwide next year.

Some 4.4 billion won has been newly allocated to support youth in regional areas seeking employment in the AI transformation sector. High-value vocational education and training courses will also expand from 99 to 159 programs.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyung said the ministry plans to "pursue policy without gaps — expanding support for diverse families, supporting child care and parenting, protecting youth and fostering healthy development, and helping victims of violence recover their daily lives as quickly as possible."