Hongcheon County in Gangwon Province will provide newlywed couples with marriage incentives of up to 5 million won starting in July. The measure aims to create a marriage-friendly environment in a rural area facing continued population decline and to encourage young couples to settle down. The payments will be distributed in installments through local currency over three years.
Both spouses must reside in Hongcheon to apply
According to Hongcheon County on the 15th, the incentive targets couples who register their marriage on or after July 1. Both spouses must be between 18 and 49 years old as of the marriage registration date, and only couples who have been registered as residents and actually living in Hongcheon County for at least one year prior to the registration date are eligible. The program is being implemented based on the "Ordinance on Marriage Promotion and Support in Hongcheon County."
Both spouses must maintain their resident registration in Hongcheon County throughout the period of receiving the incentive. However, at the time of the initial payment, applications are accepted even if only one of the spouses has an address in Hongcheon. In such cases, the other spouse becomes eligible for support if they transfer their address to Hongcheon before applying. Foreign spouses must be listed on the Korean spouse's resident registration record or registered at the same address on their alien registration card.
Couples who have previously received the Hongcheon County marriage incentive are not eligible to apply. The structure provides continued support only to couples who do not leave Hongcheon from the time of marriage registration until the end of the payment period, distinguishing it from one-time support and emphasizing its design to encourage settlement.
The maximum payment is 5 million won per couple, provided to one designated applicant through top-ups on the Hongcheon Sarang Card, the local currency. The amount is paid in installments over three years, with 2 million won each in the first and second years and 1 million won in the third year. Paying through local currency also has the effect of encouraging the incentive to be spent within the Hongcheon area. Applications will be accepted at the Hongcheon County Office starting July 1, the program's launch date.
Jeongseon's marriage incentive sparks population rebound
The marriage incentive policy is also being implemented in nearby Jeongseon County. According to Jeongseon County on the 11th, from January to April this year, 34 households applied for the marriage incentive, with payments totaling 68 million won. The payment structure provides 2 million won immediately after marriage registration, followed by an additional 2 million won after one year and 1 million won after two years, for a total of 5 million won over three years.
The effect has been reflected in population figures. Jeongseon County's population reached 34,875 last year, an increase of 1,364 people, or 4.07%, compared to 2024. This broke a 14-year streak of population decline that had persisted since 2011, ranking first among Gangwon Province's 18 cities and counties in both the size and rate of increase. The result is interpreted as the marriage incentive, combined with Gangwon Province's first rural basic income project, having boosted the influx of young people.
