Check How to Apply for First Meeting Voucher and Where to Use the Benefit

What Are the Benefit Amounts and Payment Methods for First and Subsequent Children?

The Ministry of Health and Welfare provides tiered voucher amounts based on birth order to ease the initial cost of raising children. The benefit is not paid as cash into a bank account, but is loaded as voucher points onto the National Happiness Card held by the mother or guardian.

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare Official Newborn Support Guide, verified October 26, 2026

If you already have a National Happiness Card issued for pregnancy and medical expenses, the points can be directly credited to your existing card without issuing a new one. If you do not have a card, you can designate a card company and apply for a new card during the voucher application process.

For families with multiples (twins), benefits are calculated per child according to birth order. KRW 2,000,000 for the first child and KRW 3,000,000 for the second child are combined, providing a total voucher value of KRW 5,000,000 on a single card.

Where Can You Spend the Voucher and Which Categories Are Restricted?

The First Meeting Voucher is designed for broad everyday use. Rather than being restricted to a narrow list of designated merchants, it can be used at nearly all merchants except for entertainment and gambling sectors.

• Eligible Merchants: Postpartum care centers, pediatric clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, large supermarkets, department stores, local grocery stores, baby expos, general restaurants, and online shopping malls (for diapers, formula, and baby supplies)
• Restricted Categories: Nightclubs, bars, gambling establishments (casinos, lottery retailers), massage and spa parlors, recreational facilities (golf ranges, karaoke rooms), adult stores, duty-free shops, and gift certificates or financial securities

When shopping online, select credit or debit card payment and choose your National Happiness Card provider. If a pop-up or option appears asking whether to apply government voucher points, check the box to ensure the purchase is deducted from your voucher balance rather than charged to your bank account.

Right after the transaction, your card issuer sends a text or mobile notification showing the deducted amount and remaining voucher balance. You can also monitor your live balance at any time through the Social Service Electronic Voucher website (socialservice.or.kr) or your card company's mobile app.

How Do You Apply Online via Bokjiro or In Person at the Community Service Center?

You can apply for the First Meeting Voucher either by visiting your local Community Service Center (Eup, Myeon, Dong Administrative Welfare Center) in person, or online through the Bokjiro portal (bokjiro.go.kr) and mobile app.

Online applications can only be submitted by the child's parents. If a legal guardian or appointed representative submits the application, they must visit the Community Service Center in person.

1. Access the Bokjiro portal and log in using Simple Authentication (Kakao, PASS, etc.) or a public digital certificate.
2. Under the top menu 'Apply for Welfare Services', select 'Pregnancy & Childbirth' and choose 'First Meeting Voucher'.
3. Enter parent and child personal details, and select the National Happiness Card provider to receive the voucher.
4. Input required family relation details following on-screen guidance and click submit to finalize your application.

For in-person applications, the most convenient method is submitting the 'Happy Birth One-Stop Service' form when registering your baby's birth at the Community Service Center. This single application processes the First Meeting Voucher, Parental Benefit, and Child Allowance all at once. Make sure to bring your government-issued ID card.

What Are the Key Precautions You Should Keep in Mind?

The most critical factor is the usage deadline. Voucher points must be used within exactly one year from the child's date of birth (as recorded in the resident registration), not from the application approval date.

If you apply eight months after childbirth, you must spend the full voucher balance within the remaining four months. Once one year has passed from the birth date, any remaining balance is automatically reclaimed by the national treasury and completely expires. Unused funds cannot be refunded or withdrawn as cash.

Therefore, applying promptly right after birth registration allows you to take full advantage of the entire one-year usage window. If you lose your physical card, the voucher points remain safe and are carried over once a replacement card is issued by the card provider.

For further inquiries regarding eligibility or card payment methods, contact the Health and Welfare Call Center (129 without area code) or visit the welfare desk at your local Community Service Center.