1 in 5 babies born in Seoul conceived through fertility support

After three years of failed attempts and an infertility diagnosis, a couple in their 40s from western Seoul's Gangseo District faced mounting medical bills and emotional strain. With city subsidies easing the burden, they pushed through 19 rounds of in vitro fertilization over nearly four years and finally brought home a baby boy last December. Their story illustrates the growing reach of Seoul's fertility support program, which contributed to around 20 percent of the 46,401 babies born in the city last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that 9,234 babies were born through fertility support in 2025, a 31.8 percent increase from the year before. The city funded 66,906 fertility procedures — up 24 percent from 2024 — for 26,283 individuals. Recipients in their 30s accounted for the largest share at 63.5 percent, followed by those 40 and older at 35 percent. While central government guidelines cap subsidized procedures by type, Seoul's program does not. Under Ministry of Health and Welfare rules, couples may receive up to 25 procedures per birth, with no more than 2

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