Check Where You Can Use the First Meeting Voucher and When It Expires

The source is the Ministry of Health and Welfare (checked 2026-10-13). The deadline is 2 years from birth, and it works in most business types except entertainment, gambling, and a few others.

How much do you get, and on which card?

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says it gives a voucher of at least KRW 2 million per newborn as a National Happiness Card voucher. The amount depends on birth order.

Neither source mentions an income or asset test. The program covers children whose birth has been registered and who have received a resident registration number.

Where can you use it?

In principle, you can use it in every business type except the ones below.

Hair and beauty salons are not in the excluded list, so you can use it there. A detailed list of other participating merchants is not in the materials I checked, so look at your card company's guide as well.

How long can you use it?

For a child born on or after January 1, 2024, you can apply and use it within 2 years of the date of birth (the birth date on the resident registration). The Gov24 guide gives the same rule.

• The deadline is counted from the birth date on the resident registration, not from the day you applied.
• Neither source says exactly which day the last day of the deadline is.
• The Ministry of Health and Welfare guide also lists an earlier rule of 1 year from birth. If your child was born in 2023 or earlier, check separately.

The earlier you apply, the longer you have to use it. There is no separate application window, so you only need to apply within the 2 years above.

How do you apply?

The Gov24 guide lists two ways, in person and online.

1. Get your ID ready.
2. If someone is applying on your behalf, add a power of attorney, a copy of the guardian's ID, and the proxy's ID.
3. Apply in person or online.

Gov24 also has a combined childbirth application service (Happy Birth) that lets you apply together with the parental benefit and the child allowance. Which services to bundle is something you choose on the application screen.

What is easy to miss?

• How to calculate the amount for children born on the same day, such as twins, is not in these materials. Ask your community service center.
• What happens to a balance after the deadline is also not in the materials I checked.
• The parental benefit and the child allowance are separate programs, so their amounts and deadlines differ.

Last checked: 2026-10-13. Please check your individual eligibility and balance again on Bokjiro, at your local community service center, or through the Health and Welfare Counseling Center at 129.