Gwangyang City to Support Folic Acid Supplements for Couples Preparing for Pregnancy

Creating a Pregnancy- and Birth-Friendly Environment Through Proactive Support

Gwangyang City in South Jeolla Province announced that it will launch the "Folic Acid Supplement Support Program for Couples Preparing for Pregnancy" starting in 2026 to foster a healthy environment for pregnancy and childbirth.

This program is designed to support both partners in taking folic acid supplements from the preconception stage through early pregnancy. The initiative aims to prevent fetal abnormalities such as neural tube defects and preterm birth, while promoting the health of both the mother and the fetus.

A view of the Gwangyang City Hall.

The program is available to couples preparing for pregnancy in which the woman is under the age of 49 and registered as a resident of Gwangyang City. Each partner will receive a three-month supply of folic acid supplements once per year. The program will operate year-round beginning in January 2026. The supplements, classified as pharmaceuticals, can be applied for and collected at local health centers and the Jungma Integrated Health Center.

Folic acid is an essential nutrient for the development of the fetal central nervous system, which forms within four weeks after conception. Sufficient intake before pregnancy is known to be effective in preventing neural tube defects. Previously, existing maternal and child health programs provided folic acid supplements only after a woman registered as pregnant, so couples preparing for pregnancy had to purchase and take supplements on their own.

Gwangyang City expects this new initiative to address gaps in health management during the preconception stage and to reduce the financial burden associated with pregnancy and childbirth, thereby contributing to the creation of a birth-friendly social environment.

In 2025, the city expanded support for out-of-pocket costs for infertility treatments, provided transportation subsidies for couples dealing with infertility, and broadened the operation of prenatal classes for expectant mothers to include both in-person and online formats. Starting with the folic acid supplement program in 2026, the city plans to establish a more comprehensive and reliable support system for pregnancy and childbirth.

Hwang Youngsook, Director of the Birth and Health Division, stated, "We will continue to support the development of a culture where couples manage their health together from the stage of preparing for pregnancy," adding, "We will actively develop childbirth policies that citizens can truly feel in their daily lives."