[2025 Seoul City Budget] From Children to Seniors... Responding to 'Population Changes'

Over 1 Trillion Won for Low Birthrate Support Measures
Medical and Procedure Cost Support Beyond Housing Supply
'Citizen Health' Projects Tailored to Aging Population Draw Attention

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is taking proactive investment measures in consideration of major demographic changes such as low birth rates and aging population. It plans to invest over 1 trillion won solely to overcome low birth rates, based on Mayor Oh Se-hoon's judgment that addressing demographic changes cannot be solved with just one or two measures. The city will actively support not only housing supply for newlyweds but also medical and treatment expenses for the elderly and infertile couples, support for childbirth households, and childcare burden assistance.

On the 31st, Seoul announced the '2025 Seoul City Budget Proposal' centered on these contents. With a total of 48.0407 trillion won, this is the first time Seoul's budget has exceeded 48 trillion won.

The most notable aspect is the strengthening of welfare for the future. It reflects the will to proactively respond to changes in the population structure caused by low birth rates and aging, and to citizen welfare.

First, bold investments will be made so that young people can decide to marry and have children, and parents can have strong support. Mayor Oh focused on the fact that the number of births nationwide increased by nearly 7.9% compared to the same month last year in July, and the number of marriages increased by 32.9% compared to the same month last year. Accordingly, more than 1 trillion won will be allocated for the supply of public rental housing, including housing support for newlyweds and youth. Starting next year, 4,000 newlywed housing units and 2,504 youth housing units will be supplied. The budget for overcoming low birth rates includes large-scale support for medical and treatment expenses for the elderly and infertile couples, support for childbirth households, and childcare burden assistance.

Previously, Mayor Oh unveiled the 'Birth Support Seoul Project,' which invests a total of 6.7 trillion won over two years in measures to overcome low birth rates. It is divided into 87 detailed projects across three areas: ▲care and housing ▲work-life balance and child-friendly policies ▲meeting and childbirth. This comprehensive support covers not only caregivers but also prospective caregivers such as youth, newlyweds, and infertile couples, aiming to provide all-around support for childbirth, childcare, care, housing, and work-life balance, addressing more fundamental issues.

In addition to simple housing supply, support measures for work-life balance were also introduced. The 'Small and Medium Enterprise Work-Life Balance Point System' will be expanded to provide incentives to SMEs that implement their own childbirth and childcare encouragement and work-life balance systems, as it is more difficult for SME employees to utilize work-family balance systems compared to large corporations.

Starting next year, for the first time nationwide, support for childbirth and leave benefits will be provided to one-person self-employed workers and freelancers who do not even have the concept of maternity leave because they work alone, allowing them to take maternity leave upon their own or their spouse's childbirth. A childbirth benefit of 900,000 won will be provided to pregnant one-person self-employed workers and freelancers themselves, and 800,000 won in spousal maternity leave benefits will be provided to one-person self-employed workers and freelancers with pregnant spouses.

As the population aged 65 and over is expected to exceed 20%, entering a super-aged society, a large budget has been allocated for 'health of elderly citizens.' Focused investment will be made to create a healthy city Seoul where citizens can experience 'Unse-kwon' (exercise + station area) 365 days a year. For example, subway stations easily accessible in daily life will be developed into exercise spaces, i.e., sports-themed 'Fun Stations.' Following the currently operating 'Runner Station' at Yeouinaru Station (3.2 billion won), convenience facilities such as changing rooms and lockers will be created at 10 additional stations next year.

Strengthening the 'care support system' is also one of the proactive measures responding to demographic changes. A dense public care system will be established so that anyone can receive sufficient care services at the desired time. A Social Service Support Center will be established at the Seoul Welfare Foundation to improve the quality of private care services, and various supports will begin to create a 'Loneliness-Free Seoul (Wae-eop-seo)' for isolated and reclusive citizens.

In addition, to add stability and vitality to elderly life, the budget for senior re-education and quality meal support has been expanded, including the 'Back to School 7th Grade Classroom' (200 million won). A total of 44.1 billion won has been allocated for detailed care such as the 'Seoul Bapsang' project, which prepares meals in bulk and delivers lunchboxes, supporting meal services for low-income elderly citizens.