Rare Naturally Conceived 'Odungi' Quintuplets Reunite with Delivering Physician After One Year

Quintuplets Born on September 20 Last Year Visit Hospital for Regular Check-Up

The family of quintuplets and Professor Hong Subin from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital

The quintuplets born last year were reunited with their delivering physician after a year, all in good health. This was the first time in over a year that all five siblings, who were admitted to two separate neonatal intensive care units as premature infants, and the obstetrician in charge of their delivery, were able to meet together.

According to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea on September 19, the quintuplets Sae-Him, Sae-Chan, Sae-Gang, Sae-Byul, and Sae-Bom, who were born at the hospital on September 20 last year, recently visited the hospital for a regular check-up and met with Professor Hong Subin of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who was responsible for their delivery. The hospital stated that this was the first time all five quintuplets, who had spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit after birth, returned to the hospital together as a healthy 'complete set.'

Taking all five babies out at once is no easy task, so both parents and both grandparents-all four adults-were mobilized. Born to Sah Gonghyeran (31) and Kim Junyoung (32), these five siblings are a rare case of naturally conceived quintuplets worldwide.

Their prenatal nickname, 'Pangpang-i,' inspired by the five Power Rangers, led to the nickname 'Pangpang Rangers.' The three sons-firstborn Sae-Him, second Sae-Chan, and third Sae-Gang-were born weighing between 800 and 900 grams, while the daughters-fourth Sae-Byul and youngest Sae-Bom-were in the 700-gram range, far below the typical newborn weight of around 3 kilograms, requiring treatment in incubators. The parents visited the neonatal intensive care unit every single day, and although the mother had not fully recovered from childbirth, she delivered frozen breast milk daily.

The Odungi family visiting Professor Young-Ah Yoon of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine for a regular check-up. Seoul St. Mary's Hospital

Thanks to the love of their parents and the dedicated care of the medical staff, the boys were able to go home first in January this year, and even the youngest, Sae-Bom-who had undergone surgery for a bowel perforation-was able to return home. The fourth child, Sae-Byul, who was the smallest at 736 grams at birth, required respiratory support due to laryngomalacia and had a longer hospital stay, but was discharged in March. This allowed all five siblings to be together at home as a complete family for the first time in six months.

Professor Hong Subin of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who had many concerns about whether she could successfully deliver quintuplets for the first time, recalled, "The cries of premature babies are not very loud, and the quintuplets also made small sounds. Every time I heard their voices, I felt relieved and amazed." She added, "With the recent increase in high-risk and multiple pregnancies, I hope expectant mothers will trust the high level of neonatal care in Korea and continue to receive regular prenatal care. I also hope that seeing the healthy growth of the Odungi quintuplets will give others courage."

Professor Yoon Youngah, head of the neonatal intensive care unit and primary physician for the Odungi quintuplets, said, "The children, whom we cared for with great tension as if walking on thin ice, have now returned healthy to their parents' arms. The eldest, Sae-Him, has grown to 8 kilograms." She continued, "We will continue to conduct regular developmental assessments in collaboration with rehabilitation medicine and other departments, doing our utmost to ensure that the Odungi quintuplets, who have given hope to many, can grow up healthy."