Lee Gaeho: "No Pediatric Clinics in 15 County-Level Areas of South Jeolla"

Comprehensive Government Measures Needed to Address Gaps in Pediatric Care
"Strengthening the Pediatric Healthcare System Is an Investment in the Future"

Kaeho Lee, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Lee Gaeho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in South Jeolla Province, called on August 28 for the government to establish a comprehensive plan to address gaps in pediatric care.

In a press release issued that day, Assemblyman Lee stated, "The number of clinic-level medical institutions nationwide has surpassed 36,000 and continues to rise." He added, "However, the number of pediatric clinics in regional areas that can actually care for children is decreasing."

While the number of pediatric clinics dropped by 34, from 2,221 in 2018 to 2,187 in 2025, the total number of clinics increased by 5,488 (17.7%) during the same period, from 31,032 to 36,520. This is in stark contrast to the overall growth trend and highlights that pediatrics faces structural challenges such as low birth rates, poor profitability, and avoidance by medical residents.

Across the country, there are 58 basic local governments with zero pediatric clinics, most of which are in rural, agricultural, or fishing communities. These areas struggle to respond to emergencies and severe pediatric cases due to the absence of pediatric specialists in hospital-level institutions and insufficient referral systems to university hospitals.

In particular, in South Jeolla Province, there are 15 basic local governments-including Damyang, Haenam, Goheung, and Gokseong-with no clinic-level pediatricians, the highest number among all metropolitan or provincial regions in the country. In Yeonggwang, there was one pediatric clinic until 2018, but since its closure, no new clinic has opened.

Assemblyman Lee emphasized, "Even if childbirth is encouraged in rural areas, they remain pediatric care blind spots with nowhere for children to receive treatment." He continued, "Pediatrics is a field that is particularly shunned by residents due to low profitability, high rates of complaints, and the burden of night and emergency shifts. Therefore, there is an urgent need for personnel, facility, and administrative support that reflects these unique circumstances."

He further stated, "The recruitment rate for pediatric residents is close to 0%, so it is necessary to establish policies that reflect the unique characteristics of local areas in order to overcome these structural gaps in medical care." He concluded, "Strengthening the pediatric healthcare system is an investment in the future of South Korea, and I will continue to urge the government to take active steps to develop a comprehensive plan."

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