Seoul doubles budget of program helping pregnant women age 35 and up

Seoul had doubled its funding for a program to help pregnant women aged 35 and older afford medical care. The program is offering up to 500,000 won ($350) per pregnancy, in a move that illustrates how the government is attempting to boost the birth rate by giving financial support to couples.

Key Takeaways:

• In an effort to increase the birth rate, Seoul is offering 500,000 won ($340) to pregnant women to help cover medical costs.

• The money can be used for outpatient consultations and examination fees related to the pregnancy.

• To qualify, the pregnant woman must be aged 35 or older, and at least one of the partners must be Korean.

• Last year, the program saw 25,000 applications, inspiring the government to increase the program's budget for this year.

The Details:

On April 15, the city administration announced that it had increased the budget for its ongoing Medical Expense Support Program for Pregnant Women Aged 35 and Older in order to ease the financial burden of medical costs resulting from the rising number of advanced-age pregnancies. It procured 14.3 billion won in funding for this year, signifying a significant increase from last year’s 7.52 billion won. Last year, there were 25,000 applications. The program offers 500,000 won to women to help cover outpatient consultations and examination fees related to the pregnancy.

To qualify, applicants must be Seoul residents aged 35 or older, and at least one of the partners must be Korean. Women can submit applications for the subsidy, including documents including proof of pregnancy, medical invoices, and itemized records of treatments, through the city’s childcare information website within six months of giving birth. Individuals who are unable to apply online can seek assistance by visiting their nearest public health center. 

Prenatal services that fall under this new measure include obstetrics and gynaecology, along with internal medicine and dentistry. Other doctor visits can be covered if they are linked to supporting a healthy pregnancy. The program covers expenses such as ultrasounds, blood work, and specialised screenings, including tests like NIPT and screening for prenatal diagnosis. Abortion is common in South Korea when a child receives a prenatal diagnosis, and by offering to pay for the testing, the government is opening the door to more of these abortions.

Zoom Out:

In 2024, women aged 35 and above represented 43% of all pregnant women in Seoul. Compared with their younger counterparts, this group of women is more likely to incur higher healthcare expenses, according to media reports. The average age of women giving birth in Seoul rose from 32.9 years old in 2015 to 34.4 years old in 2022.

“The [14.3 billion won] budget is enough to support 28,600 people, ensuring that all eligible pregnant women living in Seoul at the time of application can receive assistance,” a Seoul city official stated.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government intends to carry out polls among recipients to gauge their level of satisfaction with the program.

“Extending financial support to pregnant women aged 35 or older is a practical measure to ease the financial burden associated with pregnancy and childbirth for older expectant mothers,” Cho Young-chang, head of the city's health bureau, said.  “The city will continue expanding policies aimed at protecting the health of mothers and fetuses while also rolling out measures to alleviate the pressures of pregnancy in an effort to boost the birthrate.”

This is not Seoul’s first pro-family initiative. As more pregnancies occur at an older age, the associated costs have risen due to higher medical risks and greater reliance on healthcare services. To address this, Seoul became the first city in the country to launch a medical cost support scheme for expectant mothers aged 35 and older in July 2024. The initiative has since been adopted elsewhere, with North Gyeongsang Province rolling it out in July 2025, while other regional authorities have visited Seoul to study the model, reflecting its perceived success. Interest in the program has continued to grow. In its first year in 2024, there were 13,718 applications, rising sharply to 25,415 in 2025, based on a report by The Asia Business Daily. 

In 2024, Seoul widened postpartum care subsidies and other benefits for mothers to deal with South Korea’s record-low fertility rate and encourage childbirth. In light of this reality, the latest support is part of a wider pattern: public policy is increasingly recognizing that pregnancy and childbirth have real financial costs.

The Bottom Line:

Seoul’s new subsidy will not eliminate South Korea’s birthrate crisis on its own, but by assisting older expectant mothers in affording prenatal care, the city is lowering one obstacle to having children.