In a bold move to ease the financial and emotional burdens on families, Paju City has rolled out a suite of new policies and programs aimed squarely at supporting parents and young children as they step into the world of education. From direct financial support to expanded childcare infrastructure, the city’s efforts reflect both the growing pressures on modern families and the evolving role of local government in meeting those needs.
On March 1, 2026, Paju City officially began providing what it calls the “2026 elementary school entrance congratulatory money”—a 100,000 KRW grant, issued as local currency known as Paju Pay, to every first-grade student entering elementary school or alternative education institutions within the city. According to Ilgan Gyeonggi, the initiative is designed to lighten the load for parents facing the daunting costs of starting school and to give children a cheerful send-off as they begin their educational journey.
But there’s more to it than just a cash handout. Eligibility is carefully defined: children must be registered residents of Paju and entering first grade at an elementary or alternative school. Home-schooled children, foreign children, and those who have already received similar support from other municipalities are excluded. Applications are open online through the Paju City website until August 31, 2026, with parents required to pre-register on the Gyeonggi regional currency app and link their Paju Pay account to their mobile phone. For those unable to navigate the online process—or who need to apply on someone’s behalf—in-person applications will be accepted starting April 16 at local administrative welfare centers, with payments rolling out the month after approval.
The city has some experience under its belt: in 2025, Paju distributed entrance congratulatory money to 3,905 new students, totaling a significant 390.5 million KRW. The hope is that by channeling the money through Paju Pay, the benefits will ripple outwards, stimulating the local economy as well as helping individual families.
“This entrance congratulatory money is intended to reduce the educational cost burden on parents and help children enjoy and look forward to their school life,” said Choi Hee-jin, head of Paju’s Lifelong Education Division, in a statement to Ilgan Gyeonggi. “Since the payment is made in local currency, it’s also expected to have a positive effect on revitalizing the local economy.”
Yet, as anyone raising a child knows, money is only part of the equation. The real test for many families comes in the day-to-day logistics of care—especially as dual-income households become the norm and extended family support grows less common. The challenge of finding safe, reliable, and affordable childcare is a persistent worry for parents, one that’s only intensified by the unpredictability of modern life. As Ilgan Gyeonggi reports, “Raising and nurturing a child is a joy and a blessing, but the heavy responsibility, costs, and especially the burden of care are the biggest concerns for parents.”
Recognizing this, Paju City has launched a series of policy innovations aimed at closing the childcare gap and providing robust public support. In 2025 alone, the city added 10 new public daycare centers and 11 new ‘Together Care Centers,’ dramatically expanding the local childcare infrastructure. The number of public daycare centers has surged from 39 in 2022 to 62 as of early 2026—a 62% increase. The city aims for a utilization rate of 29.74% by the end of 2025, quickly catching up to the national average.
The expansion isn’t stopping there. Plans are in place to add 10 more daycare centers in 2024 and another 10 in 2025, with a particular focus on new housing developments to match the influx of young families. The ‘Together Care Centers’—Paju’s signature after-school care program—provide services to all elementary students, regardless of family income, and are set to expand to 62 locations by 2029 under a five-year plan. Notably, Paju has pioneered a unique model by installing these centers in smaller apartment complexes and existing housing units, fully funded by the city. This approach circumvents legal barriers that typically restrict such facilities to larger developments, and, after negotiations with Gyeonggi Province, succeeded in including these centers in national and provincial subsidy programs, saving the city a substantial 990 million KRW in 2026 alone.
To address the realities of working parents, Paju has also extended the operating hours of its care centers. Eight out of 26 centers now open early (7 AM to 9 AM) and close late (8 PM to 10 PM), bridging the gap during critical commuting times and giving parents much-needed flexibility.
The city’s ambitions go beyond simply expanding capacity. New specialized programs, such as the ‘Paarang School’—launched in March 2026—integrate education and care for young children, bringing together kindergartens and daycare centers as community hubs. Seven institutions, including four kindergartens and three daycare centers, were selected last year to pilot this unified model, which aims to provide seamless support for children from infancy through early elementary grades. Some kindergartens are even reopening applications to broaden participation.
Innovation continues with the ‘Neulbom Hub Center,’ which opened in October 2025 at Gyoha Library. Capitalizing on the area’s publishing industry, this center focuses on book culture, aiming to meet excess demand and minimize service gaps. Meanwhile, in Shinsan Elementary School—where 30% of students come from multicultural backgrounds—a multicultural-focused Together Care Center opened in early 2026. This center offers tailored programs, including Korean language and bilingual education, to meet the needs of a diverse student body.
Parents have responded positively, noting not only the relief from care gaps but also the improved quality and variety of programs. The city’s commitment to providing “high activity” care options brings both economic and emotional benefits to families. As one city official put it, “A child must grow up happily and joyfully for Paju’s future to be bright. We will focus all our efforts on creating a childcare environment where anyone can safely entrust their child.”
For families in Paju, these initiatives represent more than just policy—they are a lifeline, helping to ensure that the city’s youngest residents can thrive and that parents can breathe a little easier as they navigate the joys and challenges of raising children in the modern era.