Birth Rate in Seongdong-gu Rises by 11.24% in 2024,
Ranking First in Seoul for Average Total Fertility Rate Over Five Years
Expanding Public Daycare Centers and Improving Teacher-to-Child Ratios
Lead to a Trusted Childcare Environment
First to Introduce Housekeeping Care Service for Pregnant Women in Seoul,
Establishing a Seamless Public Care System with the Largest Working School Bus Project in Korea
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that the birth rate increase in 2024 rose sharply compared to the previous year, further solidifying its position as a truly child-friendly city for giving birth and raising children.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "2024 Resident Registration Population Statistics," the number of births in Seongdong-gu last year was 1,692, an increase of 171 from 1,521 in 2023, recording a growth rate of 11.24%. Compared to the overall birth registrations in Seoul based on resident registration, which increased from 40,654 in 2023 to 42,588 in 2024, a growth rate of 4.76%, this is a significantly higher figure.
Additionally, the average total fertility rate in Seongdong-gu from 2019 to 2023 was 0.753, ranking first among Seoul's autonomous districts.
What draws even more attention is that the number of births in Seongdong-gu has risen sharply without the introduction of cash birth incentives or large-scale population inflow due to new apartment constructions. It is analyzed that the continuous implementation of childbirth and childcare policies that residents can feel, such as expanding public childcare infrastructure and Seongdong-type housekeeping care services, which have been focused on since the 6th elected term, had a positive impact.
Since 2015, the district has concentrated its administrative capabilities on expanding public daycare centers, currently operating a total of 81 public daycare centers, with plans to add 3 more by 2025. The utilization rate of public daycare centers reaches 70.3%, which is significantly higher than Seoul's 54.0%, maintaining the top public childcare rate in Seoul.
The "Teacher-to-Child Ratio Improvement Project," which reduces the number of children per childcare teacher, has also been expanded to include preschool classes for children aged 4 and above, supporting a total of 92 daycare centers.
Furthermore, differentiated "Seongdong-type Childcare Service Support" projects are being promoted, including support for special activity programs, daycare center visiting nursing services, and the newly established daycare center accounting operation monitoring, making exceptional efforts to create a childcare environment that parents can trust.
In addition, Seongdong-gu introduced and has been operating the first housekeeping care service for pregnant women among Seoul's autonomous districts since June 2020. From February this year, an online application service started, which is expected to resolve the inconvenience of pregnant women having to visit the community service center in person to apply. The number of service sessions will also be increased from 4 hours per day, 7 times usage to 7 times for single-fetus families and 10 times for multiple-fetus families, enhancing convenience.
There are no gaps in elementary school care support policies either. The district is operating the nation's largest "Working School Bus" project, where 172 traffic safety instructors tirelessly ensure the safety of lower-grade elementary school students on their way to and from school even during vacations. Additionally, 15 after-school elementary care centers called "Ai Kkum Nuriter" are operated to establish a whole-village care system.
Moreover, the "Our Child Safe Companion Center" operates one-stop "Hospital Companion Service" and "Hospital Bed Care Service," providing essential customized care services for vulnerable groups such as dual-income parents.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "In a situation where the decline in birth rates is a social concern, it is encouraging that Seongdong-gu's birth rate increase showed double-digit growth. I believe this is the result of implementing childbirth, childcare, and care policies that satisfy residents, leading to an increase in the number of births." He added, "We will continue to establish a more seamless public care system from childbirth to childcare to realize Seongdong as a great place to give birth and raise children."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
