Seoul City to Provide 700,000 KRW Transportation Allowance to All Pregnant Women... Applications Open from Next Month 1st

Points credited to own credit (check) card... Used for public transportation and fuel expenses
Estimated 43,000 applicants this year... Online applications follow a birth year last digit 5-day rotation system

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will begin providing transportation cost support of "700,000 KRW per person" to all pregnant women residing in Seoul starting next month on the 1st, to enhance mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable pregnant women and reduce the economic burden on families with newborns. The support will be provided as transportation points credited to the pregnant woman's own credit (or debit) card, and can be used not only for public transportation such as subways, buses, and taxis but also for private vehicle fuel expenses.

On the 22nd, Seoul City announced that applications for the "Pregnant Women Transportation Cost Support" will begin on the 1st of next month. The eligible applicants are pregnant women who have been registered residents in Seoul for more than six months as of the application date, and applications can be made from after 3 months (12 weeks) of pregnancy until before 3 months after childbirth. The city estimates that about 43,000 applicants will apply this year.

Applications can be made ▲online through the dedicated website ▲or in person at the local community service center of the applicant’s residential district. Applicants must currently hold a credit card in their own name issued by Shinhan, Samsung, KB Kookmin, Woori, Hana, or BC (Hana BC, IBK Industrial Bank) card companies, and applications can also be made using the "National Happiness Card" from these card companies.

Online applications can be submitted on the Seoul City Pregnant Women Transportation Cost Support website without submitting additional documents. However, if applying during pregnancy, to verify pregnancy status, applicants must first apply for "Local Government Services → Seoul City Pregnant Women Transportation Cost Support" through the Government24 Mom Comfortable Pregnancy application, then apply on the transportation cost support website.

The city expects many online applicants and will operate a five-day staggered application system based on the last digit of the birth year from July 1 to 5, when online applications open. In-person applications can be made at the local community service center of the applicant’s residential district. If applying during pregnancy, only the applicant herself can apply and must bring an ID, pregnancy confirmation certificate (issued by an obstetrics and gynecology clinic), and a mobile phone or credit/debit card in her own name.

When applying after childbirth, both the applicant and a proxy can apply. For self-application, an ID and a mobile phone or credit/debit card in the applicant’s name must be brought. For proxy applications, the proxy must bring their ID, a power of attorney, documents verifying the relationship with the applicant (such as resident registration or family relation certificate), and the mobile phone or credit/debit card in the name of the person who gave birth.

The transportation points received can be used for public transportation (bus, subway, taxi) and private vehicle fuel expenses (including LPG and electric vehicles). If applied during pregnancy, the points must be used within 12 months from the expected delivery date; if applied after childbirth, within 12 months from the child’s birth date (or child’s resident registration date).

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, said, “Many citizens have already shown great interest and have been making inquiries regarding transportation cost support for transportation-vulnerable pregnant women,” and added, “We hope that Seoul City’s transportation cost support for pregnant women will improve mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable pregnant women and make the journey for mothers and children happier together.”