First Meeting Voucher of at least ₩2M written into the Child Allowance Act — effective 10 September 2026 | legal basis and floor
From 10 September 2026, the Child Allowance Act provides that the State and local governments may pay a newborn a First Meeting Voucher of at least ₩2M. The voucher is already paid today, but with no floor or legal basis in the Act it has been set each year by budget and guidelines. A guardian applies to the city, county or district of the child's registered address, and for a child in institutional care the amount may be deposited into an asset-building account in the child's name.
Conditions used in the video
- Effective date
- 2026-09-10
- Promulgated
- 2026-06-09
- Basis
- Child Allowance Act Article 10-2 (new)
- Amount
- at least ₩2M (floor)
- Apply
- guardian, to the city, county or district of the child's registered address
- Recipients, method, period of use
- Presidential Decree
Results
- Written into the Act
- legal basis + ₩2M floor
- Now
- paid (by budget and guidelines)
- From 2026-09-10
- a benefit under the Child Allowance Act
- Second and later children
- amount by Presidential Decree
- Children in institutional care
- may be deposited into an asset-building account in the child's name
Why it works this way
The First Meeting Voucher is already paid to newborns. But with no floor or legal basis in the Child Allowance Act, it has been set each year by the budget and Ministry of Health and Welfare guidelines. It was a program, not a statutory right.
Child Allowance Act Article 10-2 (effective 2026-09-10).
- Nowbudget program · amount set by guidelines
- Amendedthe Act states that the State and local governments may pay at least ₩2M
- ₩2Ma floor. Not a raise, a bottom
Recipients, amount, method and period of use are set by Presidential Decree.
A guardian applies to the city, county or district of the child's registered address. For a child in institutional care, the amount may be deposited into an asset-building account in the child's name. The amount for second and later children depends on the decree.
Matters delegated to Presidential Decree.
- Amount for second and later childrenPresidential Decree
- Period of usePresidential Decree
- Methodvoucher · deposit into an asset-building account
Current program amounts are in the Ministry's notice. This page records only the statutory figure of at least ₩2M.
This video and page describe a measure that has been promulgated but has not taken effect. Details may change through a decree or notice.
In short, from 10 September 2026 the First Meeting Voucher becomes a benefit guaranteed by the Child Allowance Act at no less than ₩2M, applied for at the local office of the child's registered address.
The legal basis
Drawn from government announcements and the statutes themselves as primary sources, covering only the relevant part.
Child Allowance Act Article 10-2 (First Meeting Voucher)
In force Effective 2026-09-10 (promulgated 2026-06-09; Addenda Article 1)
The State and local governments may pay a newborn a First Meeting Voucher of at least ₩2M. A guardian applies to the city, county or district of the child's registered address; for a child in institutional care, the amount may be deposited into an asset-building account in the child's name. Recipients, amount, method and period of use are prescribed by Presidential Decree.
What this means
Even if the budget shrinks, it cannot fall below ₩2M. The meaning of this article is that a program became a statutory benefit.
Run it on your own numbers
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Frequently asked
Is the amount going up?
No. The amendment writes a floor of at least ₩2M and a legal basis into the Act. The actual amount is set by decree and budget.
How much for a second child?
The amount for second and later children is set by Presidential Decree. Current program amounts are in the Ministry's notice.
Where do I apply?
A guardian applies to the city, county or district of the child's registered address.
What about a child in institutional care?
For a child in institutional care the amount may be deposited into an asset-building account in the child's name.
Results are estimates based on the inputs and on the rules as at the stated date. They may differ from a lender's actual assessment, and the rules change often. Take professional advice before any decision that matters.