Gwangyang City Increases Postpartum Care Cost Support for Families with Newborns

Support for Postpartum Care Costs, with Increased Amounts

Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 17th that it will provide up to 1 million KRW in postpartum care expenses to general mothers who give birth to newborns after July 1 this year and use postpartum care centers within the region.

The city has been supporting postpartum care expenses to reduce the economic burden on childbirth families and help mothers recover their health quickly.

[Photo by Gwangyang-si]

Since last year, the city has been continuously consulting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expand support for postpartum care expenses, completing social security consultations with the Ministry in December 2023, and amended related ordinances in May to enable support with expanded content from the second half of the year.

The changes in the ‘Postpartum Care Expense Support for Childbirth Families’ applied from the second half of the year include ▲relaxation of eligibility conditions ▲increase in support amounts by recipient category ▲establishment of support for the use of public postpartum care centers.

First, the eligibility conditions have been relaxed. Previously, support was provided only if both parents had their resident registration address in Gwangyang City based on the newborn’s birth date reported to the city. However, from families who give birth to newborns after July 1 this year, postpartum care expenses will be supported if the mother (one person) has her resident registration address in Gwangyang City and resides there.

Next, the support amount by recipient category has been increased. The support amount for general mothers using postpartum care centers within the region has been raised by 200,000 KRW from 800,000 KRW to a maximum of 1 million KRW.

Additionally, mothers who did not use postpartum care centers within the region (users of postpartum care centers outside the region or those who did not use any postpartum care center) will receive 400,000 KRW.

For basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups, support will continue as before (maximum 1.26 million KRW to maximum 1.4 million KRW), but the daily support amount for the near-poverty group has been increased from 90,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW.

Furthermore, support for the use of public postpartum care centers has been newly established. Residents eligible for discounts at public postpartum care centers within the region (mothers giving birth to their second child or more, basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups, persons with disabilities under the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act and their spouses, etc.) who use the Gwangyang City public postpartum care center scheduled to open in 2025 will have their entire out-of-pocket expenses covered.

Applications for postpartum care expense support must be submitted within 90 days from the date of birth by visiting the local eup/myeon/dong office with the applicant’s ID card, a copy of a bankbook in the applicant’s name, and required documents.

If using a postpartum care center within the region, a certificate of use and receipt from the postpartum care center must be submitted as required documents. For those who did not use a postpartum care center within the region (users of centers outside the region or non-users), receipts for postpartum care expenses such as nutritional supplements must be submitted.

Lee Hyang, Director of the Birth and Health Division, said, “Through this expanded support, more mothers will receive greater postpartum care expense support, which is expected to help with mothers’ health recovery and alleviate the economic burden on childbirth families. We will continue to strive to improve the childbirth environment within the region and make Gwangyang City a better place to give birth and raise children.”