Gwangju City: "Pregnant Women in Crisis, Call 1308 for Assistance"

24-Hour One-Stop Customized Counseling Services
Hospital Accompaniment, Childbirth Support, and Provision of Supplies

Crisis Pregnant Women Local Counseling Center Promotion Poster. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City has designated the single-parent family welfare facility "Angel House" as a local counseling center to support pregnant women in crisis, operating a 24-hour one-stop counseling system.

The one-stop counseling system is a proactive prevention system jointly promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments to prevent incidents such as baby box infant abandonment, and to ensure safe childbirth for pregnant women and healthy upbringing for children.

Angel House provides 24-hour counseling and customized services for pregnant women in crisis who are experiencing difficulties with pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare, regardless of age, marital status, or income, targeting women who are currently pregnant or within six months postpartum.

Through the 24-hour hotline "1308," comprehensive support is provided, including counseling, information on childbirth and childcare, as well as legal, medical, and psychological services. Confidential counseling is also available through various channels, such as the KakaoTalk channel "Crisis Pregnant Women Counseling 1308." Customized services tailored to crisis situations, such as hospital accompaniment, childbirth support, and childcare supplies, are also available.

If desired, pregnant women in crisis can be admitted to Angel House and choose between raising the child in their own family or protected childbirth. A variety of services are provided, including prenatal and postnatal care, childcare support, daily life assistance, and career independence programs. After step-by-step counseling, pregnant women who apply for protected childbirth can safely give birth under an alias without revealing their identity. Since its opening in July last year, Angel House has provided counseling and customized services to a total of 30 pregnant women in crisis as of February this year.

Lee Youngdong, Director of the Department of Women and Family, stated, "The counseling hotline '1308' means we will always (forever follow) support pregnant women in crisis, 365 days a year," and added, "Gwangju City will do its utmost to ensure safe childbirth and childcare support for pregnant women in crisis."