The 4th Public Postpartum Care Center Opens in Naju Innovation City

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 4th public postpartum care center has been established in Naju Innovation City, Jeollanam-do.

According to Jeollanam-do on the 25th, the 4th public postpartum care center was newly built on the 2nd floor of Bitgaram General Hospital located in Naju Innovation City, with a total floor area of 793㎡. It is equipped with 10 maternity rooms, a neonatal room, a nursing room, and a program room.

The opening ceremony was attended by Song Sangrak, Vice Governor of Jeollanam-do, National Assembly member Shin Jeonghun, Jeollanam-do council members Lee Minjun and Choi Myungsoo, Kim Youngdeok, Chairman of Naju City Council, and Park Bongsun, Deputy Mayor of Naju.

The 4th public postpartum care center will undergo a pilot operation period and will begin normal operation from the 7th of next month.

The expansion of public postpartum care centers is one of the key pledges of Governor Kim Youngrok’s 7th term.

In 2015, the province installed the 1st public postpartum care center at Haenam General Hospital, the first in the nation to receive government approval. The 2nd center was established at Gangjin Medical Center in 2018, and the 3rd at Wando Daeseong Hospital last year.

The 5th center is being prepared for opening next year, targeting the eastern region’s cities and counties.

The usage fee for Jeollanam-do public postpartum care centers is 1,540,000 KRW for two weeks, which is 16% cheaper than the average fee of private care centers in the province.

Vulnerable groups such as families with a third child or more, basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty households, disabled persons, and multicultural families receive a 70% discount, allowing usage for 460,000 KRW.

The affordable fees, high-quality services, and clean facilities have received favorable reviews from residents. So far, a total of 1,834 mothers have used the service.

Song Sangrak, Vice Governor of Jeollanam-do, said, “This year is expected to be recorded as the first year of natural population decline, with the number of deaths exceeding births since Statistics Korea began compiling data. We recognize the low birthrate issue as a matter of survival for Jeollanam-do and will strengthen practical policies to create a childcare environment where children can be born and raised well.”

Meanwhile, Jeollanam-do plans to implement new policies next year to overcome the low birthrate, including ▲ 2 million KRW marriage congratulatory money for young couples (under 45 years old) ▲ 500,000 KRW support for purchasing childcare products for families with three or more children ▲ additional support for infertility treatment costs for Jeollanam-do couples (200,000 to 1,500,000 KRW per session, twice a year) ▲ expansion of newborn care expenses (from 300,000 KRW to 500,000 KRW per person).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.