Cheong Wa Dae seeks fairer priority system for postpartum care centers
Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday it will consider revising the law to ensure greater fairness and rationality in prioritizing access to postpartum care centers. Postpartum care centers, where new mothers stay and recover after childbirth, are popular in South Korea. Those subsidized by local governments, in particular, face intense competition for reservations because they charge relatively low fees.…
On Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae indicated its intent to potentially revise legislation governing the allocation of postpartum care center reservations. These centers, which provide essential postnatal care for new mothers in South Korea, have become highly sought after due to their relatively low fees. The demand for these subsidized facilities is such that reservations are fiercely contested.
The issue came to light when President Lee Jae Myung expressed concern on his X account about the current categorization system. Specifically, he questioned whether mothers from multicultural backgrounds and mothers identified as persons of national merit should be placed in the same secondary priority tier for postpartum care center reservations.
Lee suggested that the government would undertake a thorough evaluation, involving input from local authorities and potential legislative changes, to ascertain if there is a genuine case for granting multicultural families preferential treatment.
Following President Lee's statement, Cheong Wa Dae officially announced its intention to consider amending the enforcement decree of the Mother and Child Care Services Act on Thursday.
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