The Yangju City Public Health Center in Gyeonggi Province will launch a transportation subsidy program in June for pediatric care, targeting children in medically underserved rural townships.
In these eup and myeon areas, pediatric clinics are scarce, often requiring families to travel to the city center or neighboring municipalities when children fall ill at night or on holidays. The transportation burden has led many families to delay or forgo treatment.
The program is designed to bridge this gap in healthcare access. Round-trip transportation costs, including taxis and private ambulances, will be reimbursed at actual cost for children aged 13 and under who visit pediatric clinics from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day on weekdays, as well as on Saturdays and public holidays. Each child can receive up to 100,000 won per year.
Eligible recipients are children with registered residency in Yangju's eup and myeon areas as of the application date, and the program will apply to medical visits from June onward. Applications can be submitted within three months of the medical visit at the eup or myeon administrative welfare center of the applicant's residence or at the Pharmaceutical Management Team of the Yangju City Public Health Center, along with required documents including medical receipts and proof of transportation expenses.
"We have prepared this healthcare access support measure so that children can receive timely treatment," an official at the Yangju City Public Health Center said. "We will continue to pursue programs aimed at reducing regional disparities in medical access."
