Seoul Gives IDR 11.7 Million For Mothers Who Give Birth Rates

UNSPLASH/Yu Kato ILLUSTRATION

JAKARATA - The Seoul City Government, South Korea will provide a post-treatment subsidy of 1 million won (Rp 11.7 million) for all mothers who gave birth in the city in 2024.

Overall, the Seoul City Government is preparing 1.8 trillion won (IDR 21 trillion) in 2024 to help its population financially and raise children.

Seoul City officials reported Yonhap, saying the subsidy program was part of a born drive' project aimed at fighting the country's low total fertility rate.

The fertility rate in question is the average number of children born to a woman throughout her life which is currently down to a new low of 0.78 in 2022. Specifically in Seoul, the total fertility rate only reaches 0.59 and holds the lowest position in South Korea, AnTARA reported, Tuesday, February 13.

In order to increase the birth rate, the Seoul government has even removed the minimum six-month stay requirement for the subsidy program. So that all female residents who give birth meet the requirements to get an allowance of 1 million won.

Subsidies will be given per baby birth in the form of vouchers that can be used to help finance the cost of managing the health of mothers and babies, including medical care and post-born recovery.

Subsidy recipients are required to register their baby's birth in the city. The application can be accessed via the website of the www.seoulmomcare.com program and at the center of the environmental community.

Not only that, the Seoul City Government will expand the public space rental program as a wedding room and subsidy program for those undergoing infertility treatment or freezing of women's eggs to give birth in the future.

The monthly child care subsidy will also be increased from 700,000 won (IDR 8.2 million) to 1 million won (IDR 11.7 million) for parents who have babies under the age of one year. Meanwhile, parents who have one year old babies will receive subsidies of 500,000 won (IDR 5.84 million) from the previous 350.000 won (IDR 4 million).