• Seoul experiences a five-month consecutive rise in birth and marriage rates for the first time in 12 years, with increasing positive perceptions of childbirth and parenting.
• A 6.7 trillion won investment is planned over two years (2025–2026) to boost the rebound in birth rates.
• The project focuses on tackling housing costs, enhancing work-life balance, and providing fundamental support for caregivers in everyday life.

According to recent data from Statistics Korea, Seoul’s birth rate has shown continuous growth for five consecutive months, a trend not seen in over 12 years.

In response to the low birth rate crisis, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) launched the Tansaeng-Eungwon Seoul Project (Birth Encouragement Project), which includes fertility treatment subsidies, caregiving allowances for grandparents, and Seoul Kids Café. Over the past two years, the program has provided benefits to 2.83 million people, achieving a remarkable satisfaction rate of 96.4% and reversing the decline in birth rates.

The SMG views the recent rise in births as a crucial opportunity to address the fertility crisis. In response, the Tansaeng-Eungwon Seoul Project will expand from two fields (Childbirth Support & Childcare Support) to three fields (Care & Housing, Parenting & Work-Life Balance, and Dating & Childbirth), and the number of projects from 52 to 87. Seoul plans to nearly double its investment, committing approximately KRW 6.7 trillion over 2025 and 2026, compared to the KRW 3.6 trillion invested from 2023 to 2024.

Further details on the pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare policies under the Tansaeng-Eungwon Seoul Project can be found at the following website (in Korean): https://umppa.seoul.go.kr

Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized, “The falling birth rates cannot be reversed by one or two measures alone. The SMG will continue to be the first mover, balancing various policies to address this challenge effectively.

Key Achievements of the 1st Tansaeng-Eungwon Seoul Project (Jan. 2023 – Aug. 2024)