Province to reward rural motherhood

It was announced Tuesday that South Cholla Province will start an incentive program starting Jan. 1 next year in the amount of 100,000 won to each mother who gives birth in the agricultural or fishery areas, a first among the provinces.

For those who live in the suburbanized districts or cities, the incentive award will be provided for only those mothers whose families are engaged in farming or fishing.

South Cholla Province, in anticipation of an annual birth of 15,000 babies, has earmarked 1.5 billion won for the program. The population in the province has been steadily decreasing from 1.277 million in 1989 to 733,000 last year, a 42% drop.

"We have decided on the incentive program in order to share the burden of the farmers and fishers, as well as to congratulate the birth of a new life," a South Cholla Province official said. "Following further studies of the birth rate, we will gradually increase the amount and scope of the incentive."

Jung Seung-Ho shjung@donga.com