Gangnam-gu to hold group counseling session for couples struggling with infertility

Seoul's Gangnam-gu announced Friday that it will run a group counseling program for couples experiencing infertility, titled "Leaning on Each Other, Blooming Again."

The event will be held at the Gangnam Family Center on June 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is designed to ease the psychological and emotional difficulties couples face during fertility treatment, reduce relationship stress, and foster healthier communication and emotional connection between partners. The session will bring together couples with similar experiences to share and support one another.

The program covers four themes: emotional self-care during the infertility process, stress management, couples communication, and relationship strengthening. Participants can share their feelings and experiences in a relaxed setting, build mutual understanding, and work toward healing their relationship. A certified couples and family counselor will lead the session, providing professional guidance and emotional support.

The program is open to five couples currently experiencing infertility, on a first-come, first-served basis. The participation fee is 15,000 won per couple, though legally recognized low-income households may attend free of charge. For registration details and further information, prospective participants can visit the Gangnam Family Center website or call the center directly.

"The journey through infertility can be an incredibly difficult time — physically and emotionally — for both partners," Gangnam District Mayor Cho Sung-myung said. "I hope this program gives weary hearts a chance to lean on each other, heal, and emerge as a stronger couple."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 48,981 children were born last year through the government and local authorities' infertility treatment support project — 19.2 percent of all births — up 11,705, or 31.4 percent, from 37,276 in 2024. The average success rate for in vitro fertilization in South Korea stands at roughly 37 percent. Success rates begin to decline after age 35 for women and drop sharply after 40. Fertility treatments at older ages also carry a higher risk of multiple pregnancies and premature birth.