"Many people come here with the idea of investing in their future, or as a way of taking out insurance against an uncertain future."

At 10 a.m. on the 14th, at an infertility center located in Jung-gu, Seoul, after waiting for two hours, a doctor explained during a consultation, "Unlike the endometrium, there is really no way to improve the quality of eggs except by being younger, so it is important to preserve egg quality. We recommend egg freezing for women under 35, and these days, many women in their 30s who are working professionals and have no plans to marry within five years are coming in." The doctor added, "The process of self-administering ovarian stimulation injections in the abdomen for 10 days starting from the third day of your period before egg retrieval is not easy, but preserving fertility allows you the autonomy to choose your childbirth plans more flexibly."

At 10 a.m. on the 14th, people are waiting to register at the Infertility Center located in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Lee Eunseo

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As entry into society is delayed, marriage and childbirth are also happening later, and the number of young women undergoing egg freezing procedures continues to rise. This is to preserve fertility and prevent infertility.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the number of women participating in the city’s egg freezing procedure support program increased from 219 in 2023 to 825 in 2024, and as of July this year, the total stood at 607. Notably, women in their 20s and 30s accounted for 80% of participants. The number of women in their 20s rose from 18 in 2023 to 94 in 2024, while the number of women in their 30s increased from 152 in 2023 to 581 last year.

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In fact, both marriage and childbirth are happening later and later. According to Statistics Korea's population trend survey, the average age at first marriage for women rose steadily from 30.78 in 2020 to 31.55 in 2024. The average age at which women have their first child also increased from 32.25 in 2020 to 32.96 in 2023.

Lee, a 29-year-old office worker who recently underwent egg freezing, said, "I don't have immediate plans to get married, but I was worried that when I want to have a child later, I might not be able to retrieve eggs due to ovarian aging. I love children, so I want to do everything I can to have one." Kim, a 33-year-old office worker who has scheduled the procedure for this month, shared, "As I entered my 30s, I had vague concerns about having children at an older age, but after hearing about hospitals and experiences from acquaintances, it seemed reasonable, so I decided to go ahead. I used to think this was someone else's story, but now that I've done everything I can to prepare, I feel more at ease."

Gyujin Ryu, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Korea University Anam Hospital, said, "The quantity and quality of eggs are important to increase the success rate of egg freezing procedures, from egg retrieval to pregnancy."

He suggested, "To increase the final success rate, it is best to undergo the procedure in your 20s or early 30s."

He added, "I hope that we can identify the target group that can gain preventive effects against infertility and continue effective support policies."