Goyang City Supports Healthy Pregnancy and Childbirth from Fertility Testing to Infertility Assistance

All Men and Women Aged 20 to 49, Regardless of Marital Status,
Eligible for Up to Three Fertility Assessments
Support for Fertility Preservation Including Egg Freezing and Assisted Reproductive Technology
Infertility Treatment Coverage Expanded to 25 Procedures Per Birth

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) is focusing on creating a healthy pregnancy and childbirth-friendly environment as a city good for raising children.

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, attending the health center work report meeting of three districts. Photo by Goyang Special City

According to Goyang Special City on the 6th, the total fertility rate in Goyang last year was 0.72, showing an increase compared to 0.695 in 2023. The number of births in Goyang last year was 5,200, up from 5,017 the previous year, marking a slight rebound in the total fertility rate, which had been on a declining trend. The total fertility rate refers to the expected number of children a woman will have in her lifetime and serves as a benchmark for population trends.

The city plans to discover and support customized policies to ensure that childbirth-related indicators continue to rise steadily. The ‘Pre-pregnancy Health Management Support Project,’ which was a pilot project in 2024, will be expanded this year, and support for egg freezing to preserve fertility and treatment costs for infertile couples will also be strengthened.

Last year, Goyang City conducted a pilot ‘Pre-pregnancy Health Management Support Project’ to detect and support health risk factors that could affect pregnancy and childbirth early. This project supports fertility testing costs, and a total of 3,396 men and women in Goyang benefited from it.

Previously, support was provided only once to couples preparing for pregnancy, but starting this year, men and women aged 20 to 49 can receive support once per cycle?1st cycle (20?29 years), 2nd cycle (30?34 years), 3rd cycle (35?49 years)?up to three times in their lifetime.

The examination items for women include ovarian function tests and gynecological ultrasound examinations, with support up to 130,000 KRW. Men can receive support for semen analysis, which checks sperm count, shape, and motility, up to 50,000 KRW.

The city plans to significantly expand the budget for the ‘Pre-pregnancy Health Management Support Project’ to about 480 million KRW this year and help detect, treat, and manage high-risk factors for pregnancy and childbirth in advance.

Poster for Prenatal Health Management Support Project. Provided by Goyang Special City

Goyang City actively supports egg freezing and attempts at pregnancy using frozen eggs to preserve women's fertility.

Starting in April, women aged 20 to 49 who have lived in Gyeonggi Province, including Goyang City, for more than six months and meet conditions such as having a median income of 180% or less and an ovarian function level (AMH) of 1.5 ng/ml or less will be supported for 50% of the pre-examination costs for egg retrieval and egg freezing procedure costs, up to a maximum of 2 million KRW.

In addition, if permanent infertility is expected for medical reasons, costs for freezing sperm and eggs and the first-year storage fees (up to 300,000 KRW for men and up to 2 million KRW for women) will be supported once in a lifetime.

Meanwhile, even before being diagnosed with infertility, if frozen eggs are used for assisted reproductive technology aimed at pregnancy and childbirth to preserve fertility, part of the costs will be supported. The ‘Assisted Reproductive Technology Support Project for Using Frozen Eggs’ provides up to 1 million KRW per procedure and can be applied for up to twice per couple. The support covers thawing frozen eggs, sperm collection, fertilization and confirmation, embryo culture and observation, embryo transfer, and post-procedure examinations.

Couples wishing to receive support can apply at the local public health center after the procedure without prior application. However, common-law couples and infertile couples must visit the health center before the procedure to receive a support notification in advance.

Goyang City is promoting the ‘Infertile Couple Treatment Cost Support Project’ to reduce the economic burden on infertile couples. Last year, the city supported a total of 4,157 infertility treatment cases, with 983 of those resulting in successful pregnancies.

Frozen Egg Usage Assisted Reproductive Technology Guide Leaflet. Provided by Goyang Special City

Since November last year, the number of infertility treatment supports has changed from 25 times per infertile couple to 25 times per childbirth. Also, the health insurance co-payment rate for infertility treatment, which was 30% for those under 45 and 50% for those 45 and older, is now uniformly applied at 30% regardless of age, reducing the treatment cost burden. Accordingly, couples who have already given birth through infertility treatment can receive new support for 25 treatments (20 in vitro fertilizations and 5 artificial inseminations) if they wish to conceive again.

Furthermore, if infertility treatment is discontinued for medical reasons, medical expenses for discontinuation of infertility treatment will be supported at 500,000 KRW per case without limit on the number of times, helping to alleviate the psychological distress of infertile couples and reduce the economic burden caused by exclusion from treatment cost support.

For detailed information on maternal and child health projects related to pregnancy and childbirth, please contact the three public health centers in Goyang City: Deogyang-gu, Ilsandong-gu, and Ilsanseo-gu.

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City said, “We will strengthen effective support measures to help healthy pregnancy and childbirth and fulfill our social responsibility to create a high-quality and low-burden child-rearing environment.”