Jongno-gu Launches Full-Scale Low Birthrate Response Policies Including Birth Celebration Gifts

Survey Results on Low Birthrate Among Residents Reflected in Policy

Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) announced on the 15th that it will officially launch the ‘2025 Low Birthrate Response Plan,’ focusing on systematic support throughout the life cycle from pregnancy to childbirth and parenting.

The appearance of Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, and parents attending the 'Private and Home Daycare Union Participation Class.' Provided by Jongno-gu.

According to Statistics Korea, the number of births in Jongno-gu ranked 24th among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul (as of 2023), showing a decreasing trend in both the number of births and the proportion of multiple-child families each year.

In response, Jongno-gu conducted a survey last November targeting about 500 residents aged 18 to 49 to gather data on marriage and family status, values, and awareness of low birthrate issues, and established countermeasures reflecting the results.

The survey revealed that residents identified ‘institutional improvements for childbirth and parenting environments’ (48.9%), ‘financial support’ (40.2%), ‘expansion of childcare and parenting facilities’ (25.9%), and ‘improvement of social awareness’ (21.0%) as key measures to address the low birthrate.

Jongno-gu has set the vision of creating a happy Jongno where ‘children grow up healthy in Jongno’ and is committed to creating a parenting-friendly environment that is good for having and raising children. The birth celebration gift support project, introduced for the first time this year, provides childcare gift sets to families who give birth after January 1. Recipients can choose one from health, play, hygiene, or breastfeeding boxes.

The district will also promote the ‘Pre-pregnancy Health Management Support Project,’ which helps identify health risk factors in men and women of reproductive age (25-49 years) in advance and supports health management before pregnancy. Women receive up to 130,000 KRW, and men up to 50,000 KRW for consultation fees and other examination costs.

Next month, Jongno-gu will produce an integrated guidebook where residents can check all life cycle-related pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting projects in one place. It broadly covers sector-specific projects, family center programs, and family-use facilities. The booklet will be distributed to 17 community service centers and health centers by March this year and will also be made available as an e-book on the district office website.

Additionally, Jongno-gu provides Seoul-style housekeeping services for pregnant women with a median income of 180% or less, dual-income families, and multiple-child families. Within the voucher amount, housekeeping helpers offer cleaning, laundry, and organizing services.

The district offers various useful childcare and nursing information centered around the Comprehensive Childcare Support Center, which is equipped with play experience rooms and toy libraries. It also operates the ‘Hyemyeong Children’s Imagination Playground,’ a children’s complex cultural space where play and education can be enjoyed together, and the ‘Children’s Water Playground,’ where the whole family can create joyful memories in the city.

Moreover, Jongno-gu provides a first meeting voucher of 2 million KRW for the first child and up to 3 million KRW from the second child onward. Parental benefits are supported at 1 million KRW per month for infants aged 0 and 500,000 KRW per month for those aged 1. The ‘Seoul Mom and Dad Taxi’ program offers an annual 100,000 KRW taxi voucher equipped with a car seat to facilitate comfortable outings with children.

District Mayor Jeong Munheon stated, “We aim to be a reliable support for all processes of having and raising children together with Jongno residents, from childbirth to parenting,” and added, “We will create a parenting-friendly community based on effective low birthrate countermeasures.”