Couple Who Gave Birth to Quintuplets, Congratulated by the President with 'At Least 100 Million' Support, Jaw-Dropping Aid Amount

Payment of childbirth incentives, parental benefits, and child allowances
On the 20th, a man gave birth to 3 boys and 2 girls as twins

On the 20th, the couple Kim Jun-young and Sagong Hye-ran, who gave birth to quintuplets, are expected to receive more than 170 million KRW in support from the government and local authorities, including childbirth incentives and parental allowances.

Photo of parents of quintuplets, Kim Jun-young and Sagong Hye-ran, taken during the late pregnancy stage [Image source=Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, Dongducheon City announced that it would provide the couple with a childbirth incentive of 15 million KRW, established by the Dongducheon City ordinance, through the Dongducheon Love Card. This card can be used as a form of local currency. According to the Dongducheon City ordinance, the childbirth incentive is set at 1 million KRW for the first child, 1.5 million KRW for the second, 2.5 million KRW for the third, and 5 million KRW for the fourth and subsequent children. Additionally, Dongducheon City’s postpartum care expense of 1 million KRW and Gyeonggi Province’s postpartum care expense of 2.5 million KRW will also be provided via the Dongducheon Love Card.

The couple will also receive 14 million KRW from the government’s First Meeting Voucher support. The First Meeting Voucher is provided through the National Happiness Card, with 2 million KRW for the first child and 3 million KRW for each child thereafter, totaling 14 million KRW. Furthermore, they will receive parental allowances of 1 million KRW per child up to 11 months, 500,000 KRW per child from 12 to 23 months, and a child allowance of 100,000 KRW per month per child from 0 to 95 months. The child allowance payment method varies depending on whether the child attends daycare or not.

When combining these cash supports and the various monthly allowances they will receive in the future, the total exceeds 170 million KRW. Including additional benefits such as pregnancy and childbirth medical expense support, extra national scholarships, and student loan interest exemptions, the total amount of support is expected to be even greater.

A Dongducheon City official said, "This is a joyous occasion for the city," and added, "From now on, the mayor and related departments will regularly listen to the difficulties of the quintuplets’ parents and will do their best to provide support not only financially but also by mobilizing public resources."

The couple Kim Jun-young and Sagong Hye-ran, residents of Dongducheon City, gave birth to three boys and two girls conceived naturally at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital on the 20th. Although Sagong’s due date was in December, due to a very large belly and pregnancy complications, she could no longer delay delivery and underwent a cesarean section at 27 weeks of pregnancy. All the babies were born healthy but are currently in incubators due to being premature.

On the 22nd, Yoo Hye-mi, the Chief of Low Birthrate Response, visited Seoul St. Mary's Hospital to deliver a congratulatory letter and gift prepared by President Yoon Seok-yeol to Kim Jun-young, the father of quintuplets.
[Photo by the Office of the President]

Father Kim is a high school teacher in the Dongducheon area, and mother Sagong works in educational administration at a school in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. They met while participating in a joint university club during their college years, dated for seven years starting in 2016, and got married last October. Before pregnancy, Sagong was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and received ovulation induction treatment to prepare for pregnancy. Immediately after the first treatment, quintuplets were conceived. This is the first case in Korea where quintuplets were naturally conceived and born healthy.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 22nd, President Yoon Suk-yeol sent Yoo Hye-mi, the Chief of Low Birthrate Response, to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital where the quintuplets were born to deliver a congratulatory letter and gifts. President Yoon had already sent a congratulatory message via Facebook on the 20th, the day the babies were born, and sent Yoo Hye-mi in person to extend his congratulations once again. In his congratulatory letter, President Yoon said, "The birth of quintuplets, which is rare worldwide, in our country is a joy for all of us," and added, "We will strive to ensure that the mother, father, and five babies can create a happy future together." He also expressed gratitude to the medical staff who safely delivered the quintuplets. As a congratulatory gift wishing for the children’s health and happiness and the mother’s speedy recovery, President Yoon sent five-colored baby clothes and naturally harvested seaweed.