This Pinay content creator received incentives after giving birth in South Korea. Here's what you need to know
Childbirth is physically and mentally exhausting, not to mention expensive. A Filipina content creator, who gave birth in South Korea, received not only financial assistance but also several perks like free medical check-ups and discounted electric bills.
Chef Obang, whose real name is Nova Jane Kwon, was in almost in the 34th week of her pregnancy when she arrived in South Korea with her Korean husband.
“My husband is Korean. His family wants to take care of me. They want to cook and provide healthy food,” she told PhilSTAR L!fe.
“[He] knows well what needs to be done and prepared before and after giving birth here in Korea. He said I should just focus on my recovery. No need to help him.”
Kwon was due on June 30, but her water suddenly broke at 1:30 a.m. on June 27.
When she arrived at the hospital, she was immediately checked by the nurses and doctors and brought to the operating room to undergo a cesarean section.
“Walang sinayang na oras ang nurses at doctors. Ang bilis ng pangyayari,” she wrote in a Facebook post, adding that she had a panic attack but calmed down when she saw her husband.
"'Pag rinig ko sa iyak ng anak ko, umiyak na rin ako. [Nag-iyakan] kami mag-ina," she shared. "Pumasok agad sa isip ko 'yung pagmamahal, responsibility, at kung paano ko siya alagaan."
Throughout her pregnancy, Kwon shared that she received several perks from the South Korean government, including a voucher worth P40,000 (about 960,000 Korean won) for her prenatal needs like checkups, medications, and vitamins.
The perks continue after giving birth, too. Once the baby is registered at city hall to become a Korean citizen, the family receives a "first meeting" voucher worth 2 million won or P80,000 that they can spend on the baby's needs.
In January 2024, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare expanded its childbirth incentives, paying 1 million won (P40,000) a month to households with a baby less than one year old. Meanwhile, those with babies between 1 and 2 get 500,000 won (P21,000). This "parental allowance" was rolled out to ease the financial burden on young parents.
In the second year of the baby's life, parents get 500,000 won (P21,000) monthly, and the government will continue to pay 100,000 won (P4,000) monthly for eight years. This means that every child born in Korea in 2024 can receive up to 29.6 million won (P1.2 million) in benefits.
Kwon clarified that not all those married to a Korean are entitled to such perks. "Only those who have a spouse visa, Korean citizens, and are covered by the Korean national health insurance,” she told L!fe.
“This depends on the area and how many children you already have. For example, if it’s your fifth child, the city hall may give around 150 million won (P6 million),” the content creator said.
The government also provides diaper and formula milk support for low-income families and discounts on electricity bills where the mother's address is registered.
Kwon's hospital experience
While she recovers in the hospital for two weeks, Kwon will also be taught how to care for a newborn child.
“I go to the nursery room three times a day because the healthcare professionals are training me on how to feed, change diapers, and properly take care of my baby,” she shared with L!fe.
In her case, Kwon spent 1.4 million won (P58,000) for her C-section surgery and a one-week stay in a VIP room. She was also transferred to a postpartum care center for another week, which costs 1.2 million won (about P50,000).
“These amounts have already been deducted through Korean National Insurance,” she said.
The content creator said that the abovementioned perks were a "standard service" in South Korea for childbirth. “Many couples choose to stay for two weeks so that the mother can recover properly [physically] and mentally,” Kwon said.
She added that being able to rest for two weeks is helpful for her as a first-time mom and as someone with a low pain tolerance.
“I really appreciate not being rushed to recover quickly, so I can fully heal before going home and take care of my baby properly without any health problems, especially when it comes to my mental health,” she said.
“For Koreans, giving birth is important, but a woman’s recovery is also important. This is part of Korean culture,” she added.
Other than food content, Kwon has been sharing her pregnancy journey—from suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome, a miscarriage in 2024, to getting pregnant again. She was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which prompted her to follow a strict diet.
Kwon said that childbirth, especially for her as a first-time mom, was challenging— that’s why she's so grateful to have a caring and supportive husband by her side.
“Nakita ko kung paano siya nag alala sa akin. Hindi niya talaga ako iniwan sa operating room kahit alam kong takot rin siya. Pinakita niya kung gaano niya ako kamahal during my lowest moment. Stress-free ako during my pregnancy, 'yung pag aalaga niya sa akin since nabuntis ako mas dumoble,” she wrote in her post.
South Korea offers benefits to pregnant women and parents as part of its efforts to boost the country's falling birth rate.
In April, the number of babies born reached 20,717, marking an 8.7% increase and the steepest on-year hike since April 1991.
In the Philippines, a maternity package at The Medical City starts at P163,000 for normal delivery, inclusive of professional fees, a standard private room, routine newborn screening, medicine and supplies, lactation counseling, and a maternity or newborn shoot with Nice Print Photo.
