Living in Korea and interested in prenatal care experiences and resources? This blog post shares data regarding the lived experiences of English-speaking residents with prenatal care while in South Korea. Additionally, it includes resources for those who need prenatal care support.
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About Prenatal Care
Prenatal care plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus. Regular prenatal visits allow healthcare providers to monitor the pregnancy and identify any potential problems before they become serious.
However, navigating prenatal care in a new country can be challenging. This blog post offers a few prenatal care resources in Korea based on location. This list is not exhaustive. As our SOS Public Health volunteers continue to research, more resources may be added.
Additionally, if you have useful information on prenatal care resources to add to this list, feel free to email publichealth@southofseoul.net or message us on our Facebook page.
2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health Research
In 2022, SOS Public Health conducted a maternal health research study to learn about the English-speaking international community’s access to maternal health resources in Korea. The 2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health survey (SOS PHMHS) revealed that 100% of respondents sought prenatal care at some point during their pregnancy with the majority (70.4%) receiving care in their first trimester.
Additionally, respondents reported prenatal care as one of the easiest resources to access in Korea.
However, two top challenges that respondents reported regarding their access to maternal health resources included (1) language barrier and (2) cultural differences.
Language barriers and cultural differences can be a big challenge in accessing crucial information and resources during pregnancy. As such, our SOS Public Health volunteers took to social media to ask English-speaking mothers in Korea about their preferred prenatal care centers. Below is a list of community-recommended health centers which provide prenatal care support.
NOTE: Not all of the health centers listed below have English-speaking support. You may still need to utilize translation or interpretation services. The information below simply provides a list recommended by fellow community members who had positive experiences while using the services.
Korean Terms to Know
Knowing a few key maternal health terms in Korean may help navigating prenatal care a bit less stressful. Below are some terms you may see or hear in your search for prenatal care services.
- Gynecological Medicine/Gynecology: 부인과 의학 [boo-een-gwa eui-hahk]
- Obstetrics: 산과학 [sahn-gwa-hahk]
- Obstetrics & Gynecology (a.k.a. Maternity Clinic): 산부인과 [sahn-boo-een-gwa]
- Prenatal Care: 산전 [sahn-jeon]
- Prenatal Education: 태교 [tae-gyo]
- Pregnant: 임신 [eem-sheen]
Prenatal Care in Gimhae
Below currently lists one community-recommended prenatal service located in Gimhae.
Morning Calm Birthing Services
Morning Calm Birthing Services is a foreigner-owned registered childbirth service company based in Gimhae. They have full-time, certified doulas and childbirth educators who provide in-person and online prenatal care services.
Morning Calm Birthing Services
Morning Calm Birthing Services is the only foreign-owned registered childbirth service company in Korea. Full-time, professional, certified doulas and childbirth educators provide labor support, prenatal education, breastfeeding counseling, and pre- and post-partum consultations for expat families in Korea.
Prenatal Care in Pyeongtaek
Below is a list of community-recommended prenatal services located in the Pyeongtaek area.
Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital
St. Mary’s Hospital is a general hospital located in Pyeongtaek. They offer an array of medical services including maternal health services. Additionally, St. Mary’s Hospital has an international clinic available for those who need English language support.
St. Marys General Hospital
031-1800-8800
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택로 284
Pro tip: When you call Press 0 and ask for the International Clinic. Well prepared to handle foreign patients. They follow US privacy standards. ER AVAILABLE. FOR USFK: Approved for direct billing with TRICARE FOR WOMEN: Excellent Womens Clinic with female doctors. Mon - Fri from 9AM - 5:30PM and 7PM - 8PM as well as weekends and holidays 9AM - 2:30PM. FOR TEACHERS: The best place to get your annual medical check. (As of 2021) 70,000 won, ID, and 3 passport photos needed. Takes 7 days to get results. Open on Saturdays.
Yale Queens House
Yale Queens House is a birth center that offers prenatal checkups, prenatal birth defect screenings, and prenatal chromosome testing. Their website doesn’t have English translation so you may need to use the Google Translate plug-in or Papago to access information from their site.
Yale Queens Postpartum CareCenter
031-8054-7337
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Prenatal Care in Seoul
Below is a list of community-recommended prenatal services located in the Seoul area.
Cha Gangnam Medical Center
Cha Gangnam Medical Center is a university hospital located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. They have an international clinic to aid in English language support. According to their website, Cha Gangnam Medical Center also has English-speaking, doctors, nurses, and coordinators. This hospital is known for its OBGYN and fertility center.
Cha Gangnam Medical Center
0234683000
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Dr. Sung’s Clinic
Dr. Sung’s Clinic is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This clinic provides prenatal check-ups, 3D ultrasounds, genetic testing, and prenatal classes.
Dr. Sungs Clinic (Yonsei Womens)
027900802
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
서울 용산구 독서당로 70
Dr. Sungs Clinic also known as Yonsei Gynecology Clinic or Yonsei Womens Clinic offers a variety of services including a teenage check up program, premarital and pre-pregnancy service, reproductive check ups, menopausal check ups, men’s check ups, obstetrics, pre and postnatal services, and more.
Hatvit Women’s Hospital
Hatvit (English pronunciation: [haet-bit]) Women’s Hospital is located in Gangbok-gu, Seoul. Google Translate or Papago may be needed to navigate Hatvit Women’s Hospital’s website. This hospital offers an array of obstetric services.
Hatvit Womens Hospital
18116161
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center
Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. This center provides patient-centered care for women of all ages according to their website. They offers prenatal care services and have a prenatal care schedule break-down listed on their website in English.
Houm OBGYN And Birthing Center
0254894000
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
서울 서초구 서초중앙로 110
Houm OBGYN and Birthing Center is a private clinic that provides patient-centered care for women of all ages. They offer English support. The phone number listed below is the main phone number to the hospital. You may need utilize BBB Korea for language translation assistance for making appointments. For EMERGENCIES, Houm has an emergency English hotline: 010-2783-9001
ITOB
ITOB is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. This clinic offers a comprehensive prenatal check-up. Google Translate or Papago may be needed to navigate their website.
ITOB
025326400
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital
Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This hospital has an obstetrics and gynecology department which includes prenatal services. They also have an international clinic with English language services.
Soon Chun Hyang Uni Hospital
027099058
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Yeon & Nature
Yeon & Nature is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This clinic offers obstetrics and gynecology services which include pre-birth care. Their website lists information on how to contact their international manager, and they offer online counseling.
Yeon And Nature
025181300
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Naver or Kakao Map Search
If you need a location nearer to you, conducting a Naver or Kakao Map search for nearby obstetrics and gynecology centers may be your best option. Keep in mind, Naver or Kakao Map searches will only provide you with the nearest locations. Such locations may not have international clinics or English-speaking doctors and staff. However, resources (listed in the next section) are available to help you navigate language barriers.
To search for maternal health clinics, hospitals, and centers near you, copy and paste the following into Naver or Kakao Maps:
- Gynecological Medicine/Gynecology: 부인과 의학 [boo-een-gwa eui-hahk]
- Obstetrics: 산과학 [sahn-gwa-hahk]
- Obstetrics & Gynecology: 산부인과 [sahn-boo-een-gwa]
- Prenatal Care: 산전 [sahn-jeon]
- Prenatal Education: 태교 [tae-gyo]
- Pregnant: 임신 [eem-sheen]
Additional Resources
Below is a list of additional resources that may help you in your search for maternal health information and support.
National Health Insurance Services (NHIS)
For questions on prenatal care health insurance coverage, contact the NHIS directly. The NHIS has an English hotline. The NHIS may even be able to inform you of health centers or hospitals in your area that offer prenatal care services.
NHIS Hotline
0338112000
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
This phone number takes you to an NHIS agent who can answer any and all questions you have about the Korean national health insurance including cost and coverage. English, Russian, Chinese and other language services are available. Note: It may be difficult for a call to go through during the lunch hour (12pm-1pm)
Language Support
Several language support options exist in Korea. Such resources include:
- Papago Translation App
- Google Translate
- BBB Korea
- 1330 Korea Travel Hotline
- Friends, Family, or Coworkers who speak Korean
- International Clinics – International clinics within University hospitals can assist with language support if needed during your visit to that hospital
Social Support
Many folks find that reaching out to others online who have had similar experiences in their prenatal care journey helpful. In the 2022 SOS PHMHS respondents reported that they utilized social groups most (84%) to find information on maternal health resources.
Here are a few Facebook Groups to join to ask about maternal health or general health in Korea:
Financial Support: The Happiness Card
With Korea’s low birthrate, the government is actively seeking ways to support families, including providing financial aid. The National Happiness Card (국민행복카드 [goong-min-haeng-bok-cah-deu]) is available to all expectant mothers, regardless of nationality, provided they contribute to the National Health Insurance system.
The amount offered on this card may vary from year to year, and can be utilized at hospitals and clinics for pregnancy-related appointments. Learn how to get a Happiness Card in Soul of Soul’s blog post: How To Get The National Happiness Card For Pregnant Women In Korea
Additional Reading
Check out the following blog posts to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth in Korea:
- Postpartum Care Experiences and Resources in Korea
- Childbirth Experiences and Resources in Korea
- Prenatal Care in Korea
- All About Pregnancy and Giving Birth in Korea
- Pregnancy and Giving Birth in South Korea
- Giving Birth in Korea
- What to Exect When You’re in Labor in Korea
- A Helpful Guide for Foreigner Couples Starting a Family in Korea
- Pregnant In Korea: The Superstitions, The Benefits, & So Much More!
- How To Get The National Happiness Card For Pregnant Women In Korea
- Secrets of the Korean Post-Natal Hotel: Postpartum Recovery In Korea
Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns.
Denise Feurer holds a Master’s of Science in Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Nursing. Ms. Feurer is a public health researcher and advisor living and working in South Korea. Mrs. Feurer founded the Maternal Health Initiative for the South of Seoul Public Health Program in 2021. Her first research project or SOS Public Health launched in 2022.
Prior to joining the South of Seoul Public Health Program, Ms. Feurer volunteered for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s (LSHTM) award-winning endeavor, the “Rapid Data Project”, to code and organize worldwide Covid-19 policies for WHO decision makers, student ambassador program representative, and UK Model WHO Academy.
Olivia Bowman is a military spouse living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology with certificates in Global Health and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In April 2023, she received her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Healthcare Organization and Policy.
With a background in healthcare, Ms. Bowman is passionate about increasing access to primary and preventative care, particularly for rural communities like the one she grew up in.
Through her practicum with the South of Seoul Public Health Program (SOS Public Health) in the fall of 2022, Ms. Bowman completed a Needs Assessment aimed at assessing and identifying the healthcare access needs of the international community residing in Korea.
Amber Barrow is currently a graduate student at The University of Texas Health and Science Center at Houston working towards her Masters in Public Health (MPH). She joined the SOS Public Health team in 2023 as a volunteer and will participate in the SOS Public Health Practicum Program in the spring of 2024. Amber will focus her practicum research on sexual health and education for middle to high school aged international students living in Korea.
Additionally, Amber has lanugage proficiency in both Chinese and Korean. After completing her undergraduate degree, Amber spent over a year living in China completing a Chinese language program. In addition to Chinese, Amber is now enrolled in a language study program here in South Korea to improve her Korean language proficiency.
Ms. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis.
Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC.
In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation.
