As South Korea keeps dealing with the dropping birth rates and worries about regional depopulation, local governments are stepping up their game. They’re not just offering money for having babies anymore. Now, they’re giving cash incentives for getting hitched, covering everything from the first date to the honeymoon. Critics are not convinced, though. They argue that these one-time financial perks may not fix the underlying issues causing people to delay or avoid marriage altogether.
In Busan’s Saha district, officials are promising big bucks to couples who tie the knot after attending a matchmaking event. They’re dishing out up to 20 million won (US$14,700) to lovebirds who take the plunge. But that’s not all. They’re also throwing in 500,000 won for dating expenses, 1 million won for engagement meet-ups, and a 10 million won travel subsidy. A district official said, “This is just one part of our population policy to tackle the crisis of low birth rates and regional decline.” Apparently, no one has received the full payment yet.
Over in South Gyeongsang province’s Geochang county, newlyweds aged 19 to 45 who live there for more than three months are raking in 600,000 won every year for three years. It’s like a wedding gift that keeps on giving. Other cities and towns across South Korea are following suit with similar schemes. It seems like everyone is trying to do their part to encourage people to get hitched and start popping out babies. Who knows if it’ll work, but at least they’re trying, right? At the end of the day, only time will tell if these incentives make a dent in the country’s declining birth rates and population issues.
