Hanam City Accelerates Family-Friendly Policies for Work-Life Balance

On April 9, Hanam City Mayor Lee Hyun-jae visited the workplace daycare center at Hanam City Hall, where he took commemorative photos with staff members and their children, as well as the daycare director. Hanam City is actively promoting 'family-friendly administration' to support work-life balance. Since 2022, the city has operated a workplace daycare that currently accommodates 63 children across 11 classes, providing professional childcare services through a private consignment model. The daycare operates from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, catering to the needs of dual-income employees.

In addition to childcare, the city offers notable benefits for childbirth and parenting. For the birth of a second child, parents receive welfare points worth 2 million KRW, and for a third child or more, the amount increases to 3 million KRW. Regardless of the number of children, a congratulatory payment of 300,000 KRW is also provided. Public employees with children in elementary school or younger can take up to two hours of parental leave per day for a maximum of 36 months. This year alone, over 150 employees have utilized this benefit.

To assist employees returning from parental leave, the city has implemented a 'Preferred Department System' to help them readjust to work. Im Seong-eun, a 35-year-old public official who returned to work in March, chose to be placed in a department located within the city hall that has a workplace daycare. She expressed, 'Being able to manage both work continuity and childcare made my return feel like a fresh start rather than a burden.'

Starting next year, the city will significantly enhance its childbirth incentive points. Currently, 0.5 points are awarded for having two or more children, but from 2026, the points will increase to 0.7 for the first child, 1.5 for the second, 2 for the third, and 3 for the fourth child and beyond, making it the highest level among the 31 cities and counties in the province.

Mayor Lee emphasized the need to foster a culture where childbirth and parenting are seen as 'joys' within the public sector, stating, 'We will actively support public employees in harmonizing their work and family lives.'