Brilio.net - The birth rate is an important thing in maintaining the population of a region or country. The reason is, the birth of a new generation will guarantee the sustainability of a country in the future. Even so, quite a few countries are currently experiencing the phenomenon of low birth rates.
Reported by brilio.net from The Korean Times on Tuesday (2/7), South Korea is one of the countries experiencing a new birth rate crisis. This makes the central and regional governments in Ginseng Country try to implement various policies to encourage couples to marry and have children to increase the birth rate.
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This has also been done by the Busan District authorities who offer incentives in the form of funds to residents who want to date. According to The Korean Times, the local government offers 1 million won or around Rp. 11.8 million just to start a romantic relationship through matchmaking events.
According to the Saha District Office in Busan, the draft additional budget will be implemented by creating a mass blind date event for single Korean and foreign men and women. This decision was recently approved by the district council .
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Interestingly, this event is not only intended for native Koreans. Foreign nationals are also allowed to take part in the event. The event is scheduled for October 2024 and is aimed at young people aged 23 to 43 who live or work in the district.
If a man and woman decide to start a romantic relationship after the event, they will get 1 million won. Furthermore, if they hold a "sang-gyeon-rye," a kind of gathering of family members that is usually arranged before a wedding, aka a proposal, the couple will be offered an additional 2 million won or around IDR 23.6 million.
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If the couple continues their relationship to the stage of marriage, the government will get another large bonus of 20 million won or around Rp. 236 million. Not only that, the local district office said it would provide additional support for their housing for up to five years.
If added up, the amount of intensive funds obtained when two couples want to date, get married and start a household is around IDR 398 million.
However, the specific rules and scale of the event have not been announced. Applicants will be selected based on applications and interviews to be selected as participants.
If this year's event manages to attract attention and produce positive results, the office said it would make it an annual event with more non-Korean participants.