Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member Paek Jonghan Calls for Expansion of Postpartum Care Support

Points Out Need to Expand Veterans’ Allowances to Include Spouses

Paek Jonghan, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, raised the need to expand support for postpartum care expenses during a five-minute free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 336th regular meeting on the 19th, urging a shift toward practical and tangible childbirth policies.

Paek Jonghan, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, spoke about the need to expand postpartum care support during a five-minute free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 336th regular meeting on the 19th. Photo by Paek Jonghan

Assemblyman Paek pointed out, "The total fertility rate in Gwangju Seo-gu is 0.59, the lowest among the five autonomous districts in Gwangju," adding, "The burden of postpartum care costs is one of the main reasons families give up on having children."

He continued, "The current system remains at a symbolic level of support focused on vulnerable groups, leaving most families who give birth ineligible for assistance." He proposed expanding the scope of support, increasing the basic amount of support, providing additional support for basic livelihood recipients, those just above the poverty line, people with disabilities, single-parent families, and families with a second child or more, switching from an application-based system to automatic payments, and signing cooperative agreements with private postpartum care centers.

Furthermore, he emphasized, "Postpartum care is not a choice but an essential public service," and stated, "Reducing the burden on families who give birth is the starting point for addressing low birth rates."

Lastly, Assemblyman Paek addressed the differences in allowances for veterans depending on the financial conditions of local governments, stating, "Considering the value of their dedication to the country, this allowance should not be seen as a welfare policy but as a national responsibility and honor." He called for expanding the scope of support to include spouses and children of veterans who are struggling to make a living.

Meanwhile, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the average cost for postpartum care centers in Gwangju is 2.92 million won for a standard room and 3.87 million won for a special room for a 14-day stay. The support programs provide 500,000 won in Gwangju-type postpartum care subsidies and 1 million won in Seo-gu-type maternal care subsidies to basic livelihood recipients, those just above the poverty line, people with disabilities, single-parent families, and families with a second child or more.