Seoul City Supports 25 Fertility Treatments per Year for Infertile Couples... Also Covers Costs of Failed Procedures

15.8% of Babies Born This Year Were Supported by Infertility Assistance
Second and Third Children Also Receive 25 Support Sessions Each

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is expanding support for infertility treatment costs from 25 times per couple to 25 times per childbirth. Even in cases of treatment failure due to empty follicles or immature eggs, treatment costs will be supported without any limit on the number of attempts.

The city announced on the 30th that starting November 1, it will increase support for infertility treatment costs, including expanding the number of supported treatments and providing medical expense support for treatment discontinuation. Earlier in February, the city expanded the number of infertility treatment supports and abolished the age-based differentiation of infertility support funds.

The view of Cha Women's Medical Research Institute Seoul Station Infertility Center. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Up until last month, infertility treatments supported by the city increased by 61.8% compared to the previous year. Babies born through infertility treatment support this year account for 15.8% of all births in Seoul. The city judged that the infertility support program provides practical help to couples who wish to have children.

First, the treatment support, which was previously limited to 25 times per infertile couple in their lifetime, will now be expanded to 25 times per childbirth. Even if a couple received support for 25 treatments for their first child through infertility treatment, they can receive support for 25 treatments for each child in the process of planning a second or third child.

The health insurance co-payment, which was more burdensome for older age groups, will now be uniformly 30% regardless of age. Initially, those aged 45 and over were charged 50%, and those under 44 were charged 30%.

Additionally, in cases where infertility treatment fails or is discontinued due to medical reasons such as empty follicles or immature eggs, regardless of the patient's will, treatment costs can be supported without any limit on the number of attempts. However, if treatment is discontinued due to personal reasons other than medical judgment, support is not provided. The support amount is the same as for infertile couples’ treatment costs: 1.1 million KRW for fresh embryos and 500,000 KRW for frozen embryos.

Kim Tae-hee, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Citizen Health Bureau, said, "Many infertile couples feel burdened by the high cost of treatment but do not give up and continue treatment. We expect that this expansion of treatment cost support will provide practical help to couples who want to have children. We will continue to discover and expand necessary policies so that infertile couples can hold the babies they have longed for."