Gyeongnam Expands Postpartum Care & Financial Support for Families

South Korean provinces and cities are expanding public support for pregnancy and postpartum care, reflecting a national effort to address declining birth rates and improve maternal and infant health. Gyeongnam Province, for example, is implementing a series of measures designed to alleviate the financial and emotional burdens associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. Similar initiatives are underway in Seoul and Gyeongsan City, demonstrating a widespread commitment to bolstering family support systems.

Strengthening Support During Pregnancy Preparation

Recognizing the emotional challenges faced by couples undergoing fertility treatments or preparing for pregnancy, Gyeongnam Province is reinforcing psychological counseling services. The Infertility and Pregnant Women Psychological Counseling Center, operating out of Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital, will continue its work this year, providing support to those navigating the complexities of family planning. To improve access for residents in the western region of the province, professional counselors will conduct outreach visits twice monthly, offering services directly to communities with limited access to the central facility.

Expanding Financial Assistance for Pre-Pregnancy Health

The province is also broadening the scope of its ‘Pre-Pregnancy Health Management Fertility Testing Fee Support’ program. This initiative provides financial assistance – up to 130,000 won for women and 50,000 won for men – to individuals aged 20 to 49 undergoing fertility testing. For 2026, the program will extend support to 13,997 individuals, an increase of 427 compared to the previous year.

Financial Support During and After Childbirth

Gyeongnam Province will continue to support 90% of out-of-pocket expenses through the maternal and newborn health care support project for families giving birth with an income below 180% of the standard median income, for up to 15 days. This ongoing support aims to reduce the financial strain associated with childbirth and early postpartum care.

Addressing Regional Disparities in Postpartum Care Infrastructure

Acknowledging uneven access to postpartum care facilities across the province, Gyeongnam is investing in the creation of public postpartum care centers in the western region (Sacheon) and the northern region (Geochang). Construction is slated to begin in the first half of 2026, with anticipated openings in the second half of 2027. This expansion builds upon the existing public postpartum care center in the eastern region (Milyang), which opened in 2022 and provides a 70% discount on usage fees – approximately 1.12 million won per person – to mothers with second or subsequent children and to vulnerable populations.

Emergency Care for High-Risk Mothers and Newborns

To ensure timely intervention in critical situations, a 24-hour operating system is being implemented at four regional maternal and child medical centers. This will facilitate rapid response to emergencies involving high-risk mothers and newborns. Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital operates a high-risk maternal intensive care unit with 7 beds and a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 38 beds, providing specialized care for critically ill mothers and infants in the Buul-Gyeong area. Gyeongsang National University Hospital (15 beds), Samsung Changwon Hospital (24 beds), and Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital (17 beds) also operate regional NICUs dedicated to the treatment of high-risk newborns.

Nutritional Support for New Families

Recognizing the importance of proper nutrition for infants, Gyeongnam Province is expanding its ‘Nutrition Package Voucher Project for Birth Families.’ Initially launched in 11 cities and counties experiencing population decline, the program will now be available province-wide. The project provides vouchers worth 300,000 won for the purchase of agricultural, livestock, marine products, and processed baby food for infants aged 5 to 12 months.

Enhanced Support for Low-Income Families

The province is also increasing support for low-income families through an expanded diaper and formula assistance program. The income criteria for eligibility will be relaxed, increasing from 80% to 100% of the standard median income for disabled individuals and multi-child households. An integrated infant growth and development support project will be launched this year, focusing on early detection, counseling, and treatment of developmental delays in infants and young children, supporting 500 individuals.

Seoul’s Comprehensive Postpartum Support

Seoul is also actively expanding postpartum support. As of January 1, 2024, the city removed the requirement for a minimum six-month residency for the ‘Seoul Postpartum Care Subsidy’ program, making it accessible to all mothers giving birth in Seoul. The program provides healthcare vouchers valued at 1 million KRW per childbirth, regardless of income. This initiative is part of the broader Seoul Childbirth Support Project, aimed at addressing Korea’s declining birth rate.

In November 2025, Seoul launched a pilot program offering half-price postpartum care, with 50% cost coverage for multi-child households and single-parent families, and 100% support for low-income groups. The city is also establishing “Seoul-type Safe Postpartum Care Centers” to standardize postpartum care services, focusing on both maternal recovery and newborn care.

Gyeongsan City’s Increased Financial Support

Gyeongsan City increased its postpartum care expense support to up to 1 million KRW per childbirth family, effective January 1, 2025. This represents an increase from the previous support level of 500,000 KRW. The support is available to families where either parent is registered as a resident of Gyeongsan City, regardless of income, and can be used within six months of the newborn’s birth for services including hospital/clinic visits, pharmacy purchases, postpartum care centers, and visiting postpartum helper services.

Yang Jeong-hyeon, head of the Gyeongnam Provincial Childcare Policy Department, emphasized the province’s commitment to shifting the responsibility for pregnancy and childbirth from individuals to the community. “We will do our best to make Gyeongnam a good place to have and raise children by creating a safe childbirth environment and substantially reducing childcare costs,” she stated.