Having a Baby in Korea: How Much Does It Cost & What Support Do You Get? 💡
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Korea’s birth rate is currently one of the lowest in the world. In fact, it’s so low that the government is now offering generous financial support to encourage people to have children. If you’re curious about what it’s like to give birth in Korea—and how much it really costs—this blog will break it down for you from my own experience.
Let’s explore the costs and the support new parents receive in Korea 👶🇰🇷
🤰 Pregnancy Support: Before the Baby Arrives
As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed in Korea, the government offers you:
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₩1,000,000 (about $750 USD) to use for prenatal checkups and basic maternity care. This is called the “국민행복카드” (National Happiness Card) and can be used in designated hospitals and clinics.
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₩700,000 (about $525 USD) in transportation vouchers to help cover travel costs to and from the hospital.
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If you’re considered a “high-risk pregnancy” (노산) — meaning you’re over 35 years old — you may receive an additional ₩1,000,000 for medical expenses.
🏥 Delivery Costs: C-section + Hospital Stay
I personally gave birth via C-section and stayed in the hospital for 3 days. Here’s what it cost:
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Hospital cost: around ₩1,500,000 (approx. $1,100 USD)
This includes surgery, room charges, basic care, and meals. Vaginal births typically cost a bit less, but it varies depending on the hospital and region.
🌿 Postpartum Care: The Famous Korean “Joriwon”
After giving birth, many Korean mothers stay in a 조리원 (Joriwon) — a postpartum care center — for two weeks to rest and recover. These places offer professional help for both the mother and the newborn (think: nurses, baby monitoring, meals, recovery baths, massages, etc.).
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My Joriwon fee (2 weeks): ₩5,000,000 (~$3,700 USD)
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Optional massage program: ₩2,000,000 (~$1,500 USD)
It sounds expensive, but keep reading—government support helps a lot!
👶 After Birth: Baby Support & Local Subsidies
Once your baby is born, Korea provides a lot of financial help for newborn care:
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₩2,000,000 birth voucher from the central government.
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In my case, since I live in Gangnam-gu, the local district office provided an additional ₩2,000,000.
These funds were a big help in covering the Joriwon (postpartum center) fees.
💆 Postnatal Massage Support
Postpartum massage is considered very important in Korea. The government even supports it!
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Korea offers ₩1,000,000 (approx. $750 USD) in massage support for new moms through designated providers.
🧑🍼 Home Help: Postpartum Care Assistants (산후도우미)
After leaving the Joriwon, many families hire a postnatal helper who assists with newborn care and basic housework.
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The government covers about ₩2,000,000 worth of services (for ~3 weeks), depending on your household income and region.
This makes it easier for mothers to rest and adjust during the first few weeks at home.
💸 Monthly Baby Allowance (2025 기준)
Korea continues to support families even after the baby is born:
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₩1,000,000 per month for the first year (until baby turns 1)
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From next year (2026), it will be ₩500,000 per month
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₩100,000 per month for 5 years as a childcare allowance (아동수당)
This means families can receive over ₩17,000,000 (~$12,500 USD) in the first 5 years!
💬 Final Thoughts
Giving birth in Korea is definitely not cheap — especially if you opt for premium services like private rooms or high-end postpartum centers. But thanks to strong government support, many families find it manageable. Financial aid like the 국민행복카드, birth vouchers, childcare allowances, and regional subsidies make a big difference.
Emotionally and physically, childbirth is always challenging. But in Korea, you won’t be going through it alone—there’s a full system designed to support you and your baby 🤱💕
✨ Curious about Korean maternity culture?
Have questions about giving birth in Korea? Wondering how postpartum care compares to your country? Leave a comment or message me—I’d love to hear your story too!
📍Stay tuned for my YouTube vlog where I share the full experience from the hospital to the Joriwon (postpartum center)!
Life After Birth in Korea 👶 VLOG | From Hospital to Joriwon (Postpartum Center)