Taebaek Public Postnatal Care Center Begins Full-Scale Preparations
Strengthening Public Service and Easing Citizens' Financial Burden
Taebaek City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Lee Sangho) announced on December 24 that it has completed the public recruitment for a private operator to ensure professional and stable management of the Taebaek Public Postnatal Care Center, ultimately selecting the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gangneung Yeongdong University as the final operating institution.
The selection of the operating institution was conducted through a public recruitment process in accordance with the "Ordinance on the Management of Delegated Administrative Work of Taebaek City" and the "Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of Taebaek Public Postnatal Care Center."
The proposals received were reviewed by a committee that included presentations and Q&A sessions. Seven external experts from the fields of health, medical care, and administration participated, comprehensively evaluating operational capacity, public interest, expertise, financial stability, and project sustainability.
The Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Gangneung Yeongdong University plans to establish a stable management system by appointing a chief operator with over 39 years of experience in the public healthcare sector as the director of the postnatal care center. The university will also leverage its human resources and educational infrastructure in nursing, health, and medical fields to systematically recruit and manage specialized personnel. Through an integrated care system that connects nursing, physical therapy, counseling, and childcare, the center aims to comprehensively support the recovery and health management of mothers and newborns.
In addition, the center will operate a continuous hygiene and safety management system based on standard infection control manuals to thoroughly prevent infections in newborns and ensure their safety. Approximately 10% of the profits generated during the consignment operation will be reinvested into local maternal and child health projects and regional innovation initiatives, thereby institutionally strengthening the center's public role. The plan also includes revitalizing the local economy and fostering mutual growth by prioritizing the use of local agricultural products and hiring local personnel.
The Taebaek Public Postnatal Care Center is being promoted as part of a public health policy to strengthen public responsibility for childbirth and childcare and to address the challenges faced by residents in accessing private postnatal care centers. The city plans to ensure transparency and service quality by conducting continuous management, supervision, and regular guidance and inspections throughout the center's operation.
The public postnatal care center is scheduled for completion on December 22, 2025. After obtaining approval for use in January 2026, the center will undergo bake-out procedures to remove harmful substances, pilot operations, and preparations for operational supplies, with the official opening planned for March 2026.
The usage fee is set at 1.8 million won for a two-week period. Pregnant women or their spouses who have been registered residents of Taebaek City for at least six months are eligible for a 90% discount. As a result, actual users will be able to access the public postnatal care center's services at a cost of about 12,000 won per day, significantly easing the financial burden on families with newborns.
A Taebaek City official stated, "The public postnatal care center is not a project for the benefit of a specific institution, but a public health policy aimed at improving citizens' health and quality of life. We will continue to operate transparently and responsibly in accordance with laws and procedures to build public trust and actively support the center as a core infrastructure for maternal and child health in the region."
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