Inje-gun to offer up to W1.5m in postnatal care support starting next year

Inje-gun in Gangwon Province, where births are increasingly rare, supports new mothers with postnatal care subsidies alongside a range of other pro-natalist policies.

The county announced Monday it will significantly raise its postnatal care subsidy cap starting next year, providing up to 1.5 million won ($1,100) per mother. Inje-gun said it had been pursuing the expansion in response to rising postnatal care costs and the financial burden on families with newborns.

A 2024 survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare found that 85.5 percent of new mothers used postnatal care centers, with the average cost coming to 2.865 million won.

Inje-gun said it had persistently lobbied the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the expansion, ultimately securing approval to reimburse actual postnatal care expenses of up to 1.5 million won per mother for babies born on or after Jan. 1, 2027.

Eligible expenses include postnatal care center fees, postpartum massage, exercise classes such as yoga and Pilates, postpartum depression screenings and treatment, and recovery-related items such as pelvic correction devices, back and wrist supports, and heat therapy packs.

To qualify, both parents must have been registered residents of Inje-gun for at least six months before the newborn's birth date and must have continued to reside there.

Applications must be submitted within six months of the birth. Mothers or their guardians can apply in person at the maternal and child health team at the Inje-gun Public Health Center, online through the Government24 portal, or by registered mail, and must provide receipts or other documentation verifying postnatal care expenditures. Reimbursements will be made up to the amount actually spent.

As of Wednesday, Inje-gun said it had identified 108 mothers expecting to give birth in 2027.

The county said it hopes the expanded support will meaningfully ease the financial burden of postnatal care for families preparing for childbirth.