Seoul Jung-gu Provides 500,000 KRW for Medical and Examination Fees to Pregnant Women Aged 35 and Over

Residents of Jung-gu Retroactively Eligible from January
Up to 1 Million KRW per Thawing Session for Frozen Eggs, Supported Twice
‘Visiting Childbirth Preparation Class’ to Operate in Jungnim-dong This October

Jung-gu, Seoul announced on the 2nd that it will provide up to 500,000 KRW each for outpatient treatment and examination fees to pregnant women aged 35 and over, regardless of income.

According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, in 2022, the average number of medical visits for mothers aged 35 and over in Seoul was 5.1 times, more than twice the average of 2.4 visits for pregnant women under 35.

Medical expense support for pregnant women aged 35 and over, based on the expected delivery date, will be retroactively applied to treatment and examination fees incurred since January of this year. Applications can be made from the time pregnancy is confirmed until within six months after childbirth. Applications can be submitted through the comprehensive pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare platform ‘Monttang Jeongbo Mannung Key’ or by visiting the local public health center.

Starting from April this year, Jung-gu is also supporting couples attempting pregnancy and childbirth using frozen eggs by providing up to 1,000,000 KRW per session, up to two times, to partially cover egg thawing and in vitro fertilization procedure costs.

As the number of cases freezing eggs for fertility preservation increases, and the number of frozen embryo and egg thawing cases nationwide rose from 35,441 in 2021 to 38,604 in 2022 and 39,454 last year, the need for thawing cost support has grown.

To receive support for procedure costs, applications can be made at the public health center with jurisdiction over the woman’s residence within three months after the procedure completion date. However, in the case of common-law couples, prior application for infertility couple procedure cost support is mandatory.

Additionally, Jung-gu plans to operate a ‘Visiting Childbirth Preparation Class’ in Jungnim-dong this October. This reflects suggestions made by residents during the ‘Harmonious Date with the District Mayor’ event, and Jungnim-dong is the neighborhood with the highest number of births and registered pregnant women at the public health center in the district.

The ‘Visiting Childbirth Preparation Class,’ held over five sessions starting October 4th, will provide pregnancy and childbirth-related information to about 30 pregnant women and expectant fathers and educate them on newborn care methods such as bathing, breastfeeding, and sleeping.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.