The Seoul Metropolitan Government is taking significant steps to enhance its infertility procedure program in response to the severe low birthrate issue. It will eliminate both the ‘residency period’ and ‘age-based’ requirements for subsidy eligibility. The number of fertility procedure subsidies will increase from 22 last year to 25 this year.
According to Statistics Korea, the total fertility rate in Seoul was just 0.55 last year, the lowest of all 17 cities and provinces in the nation, and significantly below the next lowest, Busan, at 0.66. The total number of births dropped to 394,000 last year, a decrease of 32,000, or 7.6%. In particular, five districts, including Gwanak-gu, Jongno-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Gangbuk-gu, and Mapo-gu, recorded fertility rates below 0.5.
On Mar. 10, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the removal of the six-month residency requirement to help increase the fertility rate. Anyone residing in Seoul at the time of application will qualify for funding support. This change acknowledges the continuous and long-term nature of fertility treatments. The supported treatments have been expanded to 25, encompassing 20 in vitro fertilization and 5 artificial insemination procedures, without distinction between fresh or frozen embryos.
The previous policy, which adjusted subsidy amounts based on the recipient’s age with a cutoff of 45, has been discarded. Before this change, individuals under 45 were eligible for up to $833 (1.1 million won), while those 45 and older could receive up to $682 (900,000 won). Now, all recipients can receive up to $833 regardless of age.
A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, “This change will alleviate the financial strain on older couples struggling with infertility who are eager to have children.” The removal of age-based differences will take effect following consultations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare regarding adjustments to the social security system.
Last March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled the Fertility Support Expansion Plan, the first in the nation to cover women’s egg-freezing costs. The initiative emphasizes offering tangible benefits to those wishing to have children as a more effective way to boost the fertility rate rather than pressing the uninterested. Additionally, the policy that linked fertility treatment subsidies to income level was abolished in July 2023.
