A model poses at a postpartum care center, or "joriwon," in Seoul, in this February 2021 file photo. According to a report published on Wednesday, 85.5 percent of Korean mothers who gave birth last year said they received care services provided by such facilities.
Courtesy of KT By Jung Min-ho In Korea, widely regarded as the birthplace of modern postpartum care, utilizing services at postpartum care centers has become a necessity for many women, not just a luxury, according to recent data. A report released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed that 85.5 percent of new mothers who gave birth in 2024 sought care at postpartum care centers, known locally as "joriwon.
" While Korea faces the world’s lowest birthrate, it is home to some of the best postpartum care facilities, where new mothers receive hotel-like treatment, including massages and child care classes, while nurses look after their newborns. The report found that women spent an average of 12.6 days at joriwons, after which they returned home or sought additional rest elsewhere.
Overall, new mothers spent an average of 30.7 days receiving postpartum care. Staying at a premium joriwon can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
For example, one center in the affluent area of Gangnam in southern Seoul charged 17 million won for a two-week stay. On average, women paid 2.87 million won for services lasting two to three weeks, a rise from 2.
43 million won in 2021 and 2.21 million won in 2018. When asked .
