On December 4, 2023, at a public postnatal care center in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province, attendees including the couple Im Seong-gil and Lee Areum, their children and family members, and Yanggu County Governor Seo Heung-won pose for a commemorative photo during a celebration event honoring the birth of a multi-child family. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to counter South Korea’s declining birthrate, the government and major transit operators are rolling out a series of expanded transportation benefits aimed at easing the burden on families with multiple children.
Recent additions include priority departure services at major airports, discounted high-speed rail fares, and enhanced fare reimbursement under the K-Pass public transit program. The initiatives reflect a broader national push to make parenting more affordable and to encourage higher birth rates.
As of June, families with three or more children under the age of 19 can now access fast-track departure lanes at four major airports—Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju—when flying internationally.
The benefit applies when at least one parent and one child travel together, and up to three accompanying individuals can use the expedited lane. Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju airports also extend the service to domestic flights.
To access the fast-track lane, eligible families must present proof of relationship—such as a family registry or resident registration certificate—issued within the past three months, along with valid ID.
South Korea Expands Transit Perks for Families with Multiple Children to Tackle Birthrate Crisis (Image supported by ChatGPT)
Rail services are also part of the expanded benefits. Since May 2024, Korail and SR, operators of the KTX and SRT high-speed trains, have been offering up to 50% discounts to families with at least three children under 25 when traveling together.
The discounts scale by number of children: 30% off for two children, and 50% for three or more. Korail extended this benefit to all KTX trains, including peak-demand routes, starting in July 2024.
The uptake has been significant. In the first five months of 2025, KTX recorded 112,000 passengers using the multi-child discount—nearly double the figure from the same period in 2024. SRT logged 38,905 beneficiaries, a 38% year-over-year increase.
Urban transit is also being addressed. Since January, the K-Pass fare reimbursement program has added a tiered benefit for multi-child households: 30% cash back for families with two children, and 50% for those with three or more, compared to a 20% base rate for general users.
For example, a parent with three children spending 100,000 won monthly on transit could receive 50,000 won back through the program.
To enroll, users must verify family status via the K-Pass website or app. Additional documentation is required if the applicant is not the head of household or resides separately from the children.
Beyond national programs, local governments are also introducing targeted support. Since February, Seoul City has added bonus points for multi-child families using its “Seoul Mom and Dad Taxi” service, which provides car seat-equipped taxis to families with infants under 24 months.
Despite these developments, experts urge further action. Areas such as intercity and express buses, airport limousines, and standard train routes remain outside the scope of current discounts.
“With the low birthrate reaching critical levels, the central government must collaborate with local authorities to expand transportation benefits in more areas,” said Yoo Jung-hoon, president of the Korean Society of Transportation and professor of transportation systems at Ajou University.
“Even low-cost measures, like fast-track services at airports, can have a strong symbolic and practical impact as part of a broader pro-natalist campaign.”
As the government broadens its policy toolkit to address demographic challenges, improving family mobility is becoming a key piece of the national strategy to support larger households—and potentially reverse the trend of population decline.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
