“Foreign pregnant women in crisis also receive various counseling and support”

In Korea, there is a ‘birth notification system’ in place, which automatically registers the birth of all children born in medical institutions (excluding foreign children), and a ‘protected childbirth system’, which helps pregnant women who have difficulty raising their children to give birth under an alias.

What is the birth protection system?

The birth protection system is a system that allows some pregnant women who do not want to make the fact of giving birth known to avoid using medical institutions due to the introduction of the birth notification system to give birth “anonymously” at a hospital.

Through this system, pregnant women in crisis who need counseling and support for childbirth and childrearing can apply for protected childbirth, and the pregnant woman will be given a pseudonym and management number and will be able to undergo prenatal checkups and give birth at a medical institution. Children born under the protected childbirth system can go to childcare facilities of local governments or be adopted.

Where do I apply?

Pregnant women in crisis can request counseling from local counseling centers anytime, anywhere by calling 1308 or using mobile phones. Local counseling centers not only provide information to pregnant women who are having difficulties with pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing, but also help connect them to various services such as psychological counseling, medical support, and legal services.

From July 19, when the crisis pregnancy support and protective childbirth system was implemented, to the end of November, 749 crisis pregnant women received counseling and various types of help.

What about foreign pregnant women?

Foreign pregnant women cannot apply for the protected childbirth system. Marriage immigrants with foreign nationality who are married to Korean men cannot apply for the protected childbirth system. This is not desirable because it creates a blind spot in the protected childbirth system.

However, foreigners and multicultural families in crisis pregnant women can receive counseling and support just like domestic in crisis pregnant women. The support includes: ▲childbirth support (pregnancy test, delivery expenses, medical expenses, hospital accompaniment) ▲postpartum care support (postpartum care center, maternal helper, nursing assistant) ▲emergency financial support (living expenses, medical expenses) ▲childrearing support (childbirth supplies set, childrearing items, childrearing education, childrearing counseling) ▲child adoption, child protection facility admission linkage (adoption agency, daycare center, foster family) ▲housing support (admission to crisis pregnant women support facilities nationwide), etc.

Pregnant women in crisis who are having difficulty giving birth and raising children due to financial difficulties or other circumstances, please call 1308 for 24-hour counseling.

Mary Eve of Papaya Story