Gangnam, known among locals for its hefty home prices and among foreigners for Psy’s famous tune, shows a remarkable uptick in births among Seoul’s 25 districts

Children climbing at the Gangnam Children's Center (Gangnam-gu Office)
Children climbing at the Gangnam Children's Center (Gangnam-gu Office)

Amid grim forecasts of South Korea's self-extinction due to low birth rates, Seoul stands at the epicenter of the crisis, with a fertility rate of just 0.52. This means that, on average, a woman in Seoul is projected to have only 0.52 children in her lifetime.

Yet, one particular Seoul district is showing remarkable progress in boosting births: Gangnam.

This district, located south of the Han River, reported a 14.43 percent increase in the number of newborns last year, the sharpest on-year growth among the city's 25 districts.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 2,689 babies were born in Gangnam, a rise of 339 from the previous year.

The city as a whole saw 42,588 babies born in 2024, which is down 68 percent from 2000.

In 2023, Gangnam was the only district in Seoul to report an increase in births. Its 2024 growth rate was nearly five times the national average of 3.1 percent, and over three times the Seoul average of 4.6 percent.

The district’s Mayor Cho Sung-myung said, “Despite Gangnam’s fertility rate being among the bottom five in Seoul in 2022, its birth numbers have increased significantly for two consecutive years.”

To boost births, the district has expanded its childbirth benefits and support. Couples in Gangnam welcoming their first child receive up to 7.9 million won ($5,370) in cash or cash equivalents during the first month postpartum.

This support comprises 2 million won in childbirth and childcare incentives, up to 1 million won in subsidies for postpartum healthcare, as well as central government incentives including a 2 million won first child voucher, monthly parental benefits of 1 million won, and a monthly child allowance of 100,000 won. Additionally, the city of Seoul provides 700,000 won in pregnancy transportation subsidies, 1 million won for postpartum care, and 100,000 won in taxi fare subsidies.