According to data released on August 26 by Representative So Byung-hoon of the Democratic Party and the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, one in three basic local governments across South Korea lacks a single delivery room as of 2024. Out of 226 basic local governments nationwide, 71 regions (31.4%) have no maternity infrastructure, highlighting deep regional disparities in essential health services.
Decline of Maternity Infrastructure Across Regions
The number of local governments without a delivery room has remained high in recent years. Data shows that these regions increased from 61 in 2018 to 72 in 2022, before hovering around 70 jurisdictions.
Regional breakdowns reveal that rural county-level units in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam now routinely lack any maternity facilities. The erosion of delivery infrastructure has spread to regions surrounding the capital area, including Gwacheon, Uiwang, Anseong, Yeoju, Yeoncheon, Gapyeong, Yangpyeong, Dongducheon, and Ojeong-gu in Bucheon.
Shrinking Medical Institutions and Policy Limitations
Nationwide, the total number of medical institutions operating delivery rooms dropped from 721 in 2018 to 528 in 2024, representing a 26.8% decrease over seven years. Clinic-level delivery rooms, which have traditionally served as a primary healthcare safety net, suffered the steepest decline, plunging by 48.0% from 396 facilities down to 206.
Conversely, delivery rooms in advanced general hospitals rose slightly from 42 to 47 over the same period, while general hospitals remained steady at 156. In response to these closures, the government introduced specialized reimbursement policies, including regional delivery policy fees and safety policy fees. However, these financial adjustments yielded limited immediate growth, as nationwide delivery rooms rose only from 519 in November 2023 to 527 in January 2024 following the rollout, reaching 528 by the end of 2024.
Did You Know? Clinic-level delivery rooms acting as primary healthcare safety nets dropped from 396 locations in 2018 to just 206 locations in 2024, losing nearly half of their total capacity in seven years.
Calls for Comprehensive National Support
Representative So Byung-hoon stated that the minimum delivery environment allowing pregnant women to safely give birth near their residences is breaking down. He added that regional disparities threatening the most sacred moments of pregnancy and childbirth are unacceptable for any citizen regardless of where they live.
He further emphasized that statistics clearly demonstrate how simple increases in medical fees cannot halt the collapse of maternity wards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many basic local governments lack a delivery room?
As of 2024, 71 out of 226 basic local governments nationwide (31.4%) do not have a single delivery room.
Which types of medical facilities experienced the largest drop in delivery rooms?
Clinic-level delivery rooms suffered the steepest decline, falling by 48.0% from 396 locations in 2018 down to 206 locations in 2024.
What government measures were introduced to address the decline?
The government introduced delivery policy fees, which include regional policy fees and safety policy fees, though facility counts showed only a marginal increase following implementation.
How can regional disparities in maternity care be effectively resolved in areas where delivery rooms have completely disappeared?
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