"Second child 3 million won, postpartum care 1 million won, first child care provided"… Seoul City's Bold Support

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Promotes 'Birth Support Seoul Project'
National Crisis Level... Expanding to Infertile Couples, Prospective Couples, and Youth
'Childcare Support for Second Childbirth to Care for First Child'
'First Meeting Voucher'... 3 Million Won for Second Child and Beyond Starting This Year

As of 2022, the total fertility rate in Seoul stands at 0.59. To address the low birthrate issue, which has reached a national crisis level, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a massive support plan. With an unprecedented investment of 1.8 trillion KRW, support has been expanded for infertile couples, prospective couples, and young people who have not yet become parents but intend to have children. Despite cuts to the overall city budget this year, Seoul’s policy stance is to spare no expense on low birthrate-related budgets.

The 'Birth Support Seoul Project' introduced by Seoul incorporates these support measures and is an 'expanded version' of the 'Mom and Dad Happiness Project' announced by Mayor Oh Se-hoon in 2022, reflecting a strong commitment to overcoming the low birthrate. While the 'Mom and Dad Happiness Project' focused on caregivers, the 'Birth Support Seoul Project' encompasses prospective caregivers such as youth, newlyweds, and infertile couples. The core is to provide comprehensive support not only for childbirth, childcare, and caregiving but also for fundamental issues such as housing, work, daily life, and balance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The total budget Seoul plans to invest, including national and district funds, amounts to 1.7775 trillion KRW, an increase of 277.3 billion KRW from last year’s 1.5002 trillion KRW. Notably, this year, to reduce childcare burdens for families with multiple children, a new program called 'Support for First Childcare When Having a Second Child' will fully cover (up to 100%) the out-of-pocket costs for 'Childcare Services.' The 'Pilot Project for Foreign Domestic Workers' aimed at reducing household caregiving burdens and preventing career breaks for women will be implemented as soon as the Ministry of Employment and Labor completes consultations with the sending countries.

The 'Seoul-style Postpartum Care Expenses' voucher (worth about 1 million KRW per person), which has received great support from mothers, has removed the residency requirement (6 months of residence as of the application date) starting this year to ensure no one is unfairly excluded from eligibility. The 'Accompanied Care Service for Kindergarten and Hospital Visits' and 'Seoul Mom and Dad Taxi,' which were piloted in some districts last year and received high demand and positive responses from parents, will be expanded and fully implemented across all 25 districts starting this year.

Additional housing support measures have also been introduced. The so-called 'Chopuma' (an apartment near an elementary school) concept is extended to 'Childcare-Friendly Housing Isa-rang Home,' where childcare infrastructure such as daycare centers, Seoul-style kids cafes, and care centers are available within one building. Construction is planned to begin in 2026 with occupancy targeted for 2028. Starting with the 'Dangsan Public Parking Lot Site' in Yeongdeungpo-gu and the 'Southern Women’s Development Center Site' in Geumcheon-gu, these will be built on public land, and a certification system will be introduced to promote the spread of private apartments with similar features.

Support for practical benefits during pregnancy and childbirth is also underway. The 'Infertile Couple Treatment Cost Support,' pioneered by Seoul and leading nationwide implementation, and the nation’s first 'Frozen Egg Treatment Cost Support' will be expanded and strengthened to benefit more citizens.

The 'First Meeting Voucher,' which was 2 million KRW per child, will be increased to 3 million KRW for the second child and beyond this year to ease the burden of raising multiple children. Parental allowances will also be raised from the existing 700,000 KRW (for 0-year-olds) and 350,000 KRW (for 1-year-olds) per month to 1 million KRW and 500,000 KRW respectively.

From the new year, twins born will be automatically enrolled in the 'Multiple Birth Child Safety Insurance' free of charge. Without a separate application, families raising twins (or multiples) born from January 1 this year will be automatically covered, receiving up to 30 million KRW in benefits including emergency room visits, specific infectious disease diagnosis fees, and fracture surgery costs.

Early childhood support measures will be implemented in detail. Amid the increase in daycare closures due to the low birthrate, 600 daycare centers will be selected as 'Accompanied Daycare Centers' based on factors such as daycare density and enrollment rates, and will receive financial and personnel support starting March this year. The 'Seoul-style Moa Daycare,' which is seeing growing demand from caregivers despite the decrease in infants and toddlers, will add 20 more communities this year, expanding to a total of 80 communities. To strengthen emergency gap care, '365 Open Daycare Centers' available 24/7 year-round and 'Seoul-style Weekend Daycare Centers' available on Saturdays and Sundays will be expanded to 17 and 21 locations respectively this year.

Cooperation with companies is also attracting attention. This is to ensure that parents can take parental leave and other benefits at work without feeling pressured. Small and medium-sized enterprises actively implementing childbirth and childcare-friendly systems such as telecommuting and childbirth congratulatory bonuses will be designated as 'Birth Support Companies' and considered for various incentives.

Collaboration with major domestic evaluation agencies is underway to develop a 'Childcare-Friendly Index' related to childbirth and childcare support and the creation of a work-life balance corporate culture. Pilot evaluations and public discussions are also being pursued. Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Office, said, "Through the Birth Support Seoul Project, we expect to establish a foundation for making Seoul a better city to have and raise children by expanding and strengthening the highly effective policies we have been implementing to alleviate childcare burdens."