Gangnam District Sees Double-Digit Growth in Births for Third Consecutive Year

Double-Digit Growth Rate Surpasses Seoul Average
Customized Life-Cycle Support Drives Results

Gangnam District in Seoul (Mayor Seongmyung Cho) has achieved an exceptional result amid the low birth rate crisis, recording a double-digit increase in the number of newborns for three consecutive years.

According to resident registration population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on January 16, the number of births in Gangnam District last year was 3,013, an increase of 12.05% compared to the previous year. Gangnam District recorded an increase of 13.53% in 2023 and 14.43% in 2024, maintaining a double-digit growth rate last year as well. Among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts, Gangnam District is the only one to have posted a double-digit increase for three consecutive years since 2023.

At the opening ceremony of the Seoul-style Kids Cafe Daechi 1-dong branch, which opened last December, Seongmyung Cho, Mayor of Gangnam District (right), is looking at a child. Provided by Gangnam District Office.

Last year’s growth rate in Gangnam District (12.05%) far exceeded both the national average (6.56%) and the Seoul city average (8.95%). The number of newborns steadily increased from 2,368 in 2023 to 2,689 in 2024, and 3,013 in 2025.

The district attributed this double-digit growth trend to customized support throughout the life cycle. For families with their first child, Gangnam District provides 7.9 million won in support during the first month after birth, the highest level among Seoul’s autonomous districts. The district also subsidizes the out-of-pocket cost for child care services regardless of income, benefiting 4,587 families last year.

The district has also expanded its childcare infrastructure by establishing the Gangnam Children's Center, public indoor playgrounds, and Seoul-style Kids Cafes, while operating shared parenting centers and parenting information support centers. The Ilwon Children’s Indoor Playground was selected as an “Outstanding Children’s Play Facility for 2024” by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Starting this year, Gangnam District has introduced a “Paternity Leave Incentive,” providing 300,000 won per month for up to one year. Eligible recipients are men who have been enrolled in employment insurance and have lived in Gangnam District for more than one year, and who began paternity leave on or after January 1 of this year.

Mayor Seongmyung Cho stated, “The increase in the number of newborns for three consecutive years is a sign that the policies we have consistently pursued to create a child-friendly environment are gradually taking root in the community. We will continue to expand highly effective support measures so that raising children in this era of low birth rates does not become an individual burden.”