The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to provide newly married couples with 1 million won in marriage grants starting this October (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bold move to support young couples and maintain recent upticks in birth rates, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to provide newly married couples with 1 million won in marriage grants starting this October.
The initiative, currently under review by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will target couples who register their marriages in Seoul during 2025. The support will be distributed either as cash or points that can be used within local communities.
To qualify, couples must have a combined income below 150% of the median household income, or approximately 5.9 million won monthly for a two-person household. City officials estimate about 20,000 couples will be eligible under these criteria, though they are considering expanding the threshold to 180% of median income to include more beneficiaries.
This policy comes as Seoul experiences a modest reversal in its declining birth rates. Between January and November of last year, the city recorded 38,568 births, marking a 5.1% increase from the same period in 2023 (36,703 births). Monthly birth rates showed positive growth throughout most of 2024, with only January and March recording declines.
City officials attribute this uptick partly to a post-pandemic rebound, as couples who postponed marriage during COVID-19 restrictions are now proceeding with their plans. They also credit existing support measures, including long-term lease housing for newlyweds, fertility treatment assistance, and benefits for families with multiple children.
“We’re carefully examining various measures to maintain this positive trend in birth rates,” a city official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as per government protocol.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
