Prices Range from 1.4 to 2 Million KRW per Night... 4,000 People Waiting for New Venues
Bloomberg: "Common Culture in Asia... Lack of Awareness in the US"
A portion of the poster for the concluded TVN drama 'Sanhujoriwon'. This is material to aid understanding of the article and is not directly related.
Centers modeled after Korean postpartum care centers are gaining great popularity among wealthy Americans expecting childbirth. Even with prices reaching 1.4 million won per night, waiting lists are full, making it impossible to get in despite having the money. In the U.S., where awareness of postpartum care is relatively weak, Korean-style postpartum centers are attracting attention for their systematic approach.
On the 12th (local time), foreign media including Bloomberg highlighted the growing popularity of postpartum support centers modeled after Korean postpartum care centers across the United States. One example introduced was Boram Postpartum Care Center in New York. It was established by Nam Boram, a Korean, who realized in 2022 that there was not a single place in New York for postpartum care after childbirth.
As word of mouth spread, the number of customers visiting this center has nearly doubled. The price for staying at the postpartum care center is $1,050 (about 1.37 million won) per night, and despite the weekly cost reaching around 10 million won, it is so popular that there are about eight reservations per day on average. The center provides 24-hour breastfeeding support and education on newborn bathing. Meals are delivered to the rooms, and parents can monitor their baby's condition in real time through cameras.
A mother is receiving education at Boram Postpartum Care Center. (Photo by Boram Postpartum Care Center)
At Sanu Postpartum Care Center in Virginia, the price is $1,045 per night, and clients can stay for up to 12 weeks to recover their bodies and receive childcare education. The newly opened Ahma Postpartum Care Center in California charges $1,650 (about 2.16 million won) per night, and it is reported that there are already about 4,000 people on the waiting list.
In fact, American consumers' interest in postpartum care is rapidly increasing. Research company Future Market Insights forecasted that the childbirth coaching market, including postpartum care centers, will reach $25.7 billion (about 33.7 trillion won) by 2033, generating 79% more revenue than in 2023.
Postpartum care is a fresh culture for Americans but is familiar and taken for granted in Korea and several other Asian countries. Bloomberg reported, "In Korea, 8 out of 10 mothers receive balanced meals and childcare classes at postpartum care centers after childbirth," adding, "In Taiwan, many mothers also undergo postpartum care at centers that combine hotels and hospitals."
In contrast, awareness of postpartum care is lacking in the U.S. Bloomberg pointed out, "Most American mothers give birth in hospitals and must go home immediately," and "Even wealthy Americans long for the care and understanding that are common in other countries." Esther Park, CEO of Ahma Postpartum Care Center, also said, "There is a serious problem with how mothers are treated in the U.S.," advising that communities need to improve this in a systematic way.
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