Start of Protected Childbirth System... Vice Minister Shin Young-sook: "Early Detection and Support for Pregnant Women in Crisis"

On the 19th, visited Seoul Aeranwon for on-site inspection

Shin Young-sook, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, visited a single-parent family welfare facility on the 19th, the first day of the Crisis Pregnancy Protection and Childbirth System implementation, emphasizing that "it is necessary to detect pregnant women in crisis situations early, provide psychological stability, and offer sufficient counseling and support to prevent them from giving up childcare after childbirth."

On the same day, Vice Minister Shin visited Aeranwon in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to encourage the staff and review the operation status of local counseling centers, including the integrated counseling hotline for pregnant women in crisis. The on-site visit was also attended by Lee Ki-il, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Jeong Ik-jung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, Kang Young-sil, Director of Aeranwon, and officials from Seoul City and Seodaemun-gu.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Protection and Childbirth System allows pregnant women who apply for protected childbirth to undergo prenatal checkups and give birth under a pseudonym at medical institutions. It was fully implemented from this day following a legal amendment last year.

Aeranwon has been designated as a local counseling center in Seoul and will systematically provide counseling and support for pregnant women in crisis. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family revised the "2024 Notification on the Scope of Single-Parent Family Support Recipients," allowing pregnant women in crisis linked through local counseling centers to enter any type of single-parent family welfare facility (121 locations) regardless of age or income criteria starting from this day. Previously, only pregnant women in crisis aged 24 or younger could enter childbirth support facilities (26 locations) regardless of income level.

When pregnant women in crisis require support for childcare and parenting after childbirth, tailored support will be strengthened by linking them with family centers that have Bodeum Managers, providing learning and employment support as well as childcare services. Bodeum Managers visit vulnerable families directly to provide assistance with learning, emotional support, daily life help, and emergency crisis support. Family centers support employment by connecting with vocational training at Women New Work Centers, women’s internship programs, and specialized technical courses at Polytech Colleges.

Vice Minister Shin said, "I am honored that single-parent family welfare facilities are joining as local counseling centers to support the Crisis Pregnancy Protection and Childbirth System," adding, "We will strengthen support for parenting and childcare for single-parent families, including unmarried mothers, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare."