“1 Billion Won for Having a Child” Worked? City Records 'Nationwide No.1' Increase in Birth Rate

Marriage Rate Also Increases, Future Birth Rate Looks Hopeful

Incheon City recorded the highest birth rate increase nationwide this year, with a growth rate of 8.3%.

Medical staff are caring for newborns.
[Photo by Gongdongchwijae]

According to the 'September 2024 Population Trends' report released by Statistics Korea on the 29th, the number of births in Incheon from January to September this year was 11,326, marking an 8.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This figure is more than ten times higher than the national birth increase of 178,600, which rose by 0.7%. Incheon significantly outpaced other regions such as Seoul (3.5%), Daegu (3.2%), and Chungnam (2.7%).

The total fertility rate also saw a substantial rise, increasing from 0.67 in 2023 to 0.8 in 2024, a growth of 0.13, the second largest increase nationwide after Sejong City (0.19). This trend is expected to continue for the time being. The number of marriages in Incheon also rose by 12.4% year-on-year, totaling 9,661 from January to September. The city anticipates maintaining a stable increase in birth rates in the future, as the rise in marriage rates is closely linked to fertility rates.

The city is currently implementing policies such as the '1 Billion Plus iDream' program, which provides a total of 100 million KRW in support for every child born in Incheon until they turn 18, and the '1,000 Won Housing' program offering newlyweds rental housing at a daily rate of 1,000 KRW. The 1 Billion Plus iDream policy supplements the existing support of 72 million KRW?which includes parental allowances, child benefits, first meeting vouchers, and education expenses for elementary, middle, and high school?with an additional approximately 28 million KRW covering angel support funds, iDream allowances, and transportation costs for pregnant women, totaling 100 million KRW. The angel support fund provides 1.2 million KRW annually to children aged 1 to 7. The iDream allowance offers a monthly fixed amount from ages 8 to 18. The support amount varies by birth year; for children born in 2024, they receive 150,000 KRW monthly from age 8, totaling 19.8 million KRW.

This year, the city also announced consecutive livelihood policies such as 'iPlus JipDream' and 'iPlus ChaBiDream.' Starting next year, a new 'Comfortable Postpartum Care Support Project' will provide 150,000 KRW to 1,600 vulnerable postpartum mothers, including low-income families, persons with disabilities, and single-parent households.