Giving Birth on Base/Post in Korea if You're Non Command Sponsored (Non CSP)

Updated 12 September 2018

If you come to Korea non CSP (Command SPonsored), you can see by the CSP vs non CSP matrix that you don't have access to the same services as those families who come here command sponsored. Usually, if you come to Korea non CSP, you only have access to ER medical services; that means you can't get a regular appointment on base. This means that you can't even give birth on base. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Being pregnant is one of them. If you want to be seen for prenatal appointments on base and/or give birth at a military facility while in Korea, read on.

Get on Tricare Select*
Most bases/posts will have a waiting list to get on Tricare Prime. If you get on Prime, then you have the same medical services as a command sponsored family. However, don't get too excited. Some places have so many people on the waiting lists that they have closed the waiting list. Doesn't make sense to me since people are always coming and going, but that's military intelligence for you.

* Starting January 1, 2019 you will no longer be allowed to switch to Select due to pregnancy. What this means is that if you have Prime, you would need to do one of the following

• Get a referral to get the birth you want.
• Pay completely out of pocket (OOP).**
• Switch during a QLE (qualifying life event, not pregnancy, but for example, a move).
• Switch during the the annual late fall 90 day open enrollment period.

However, while being pregnant isn't a reason to switch, having a baby is a QLE. So you can switch back after the baby is born.

** Costs vary greatly if you decide to pay out of pocket. A midwife for a homebirth can be 3.5-8mil. A birthing center can be 3-15mil.


Get a Referral
Call Women's Health. Tell them that you're pregnant and they *should* help you get an appointment on base. If that doesn't work, walk into Women's Health and they will help you set up your first appointment. Currently, in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul, only the Brian Allgood Hospital aka the 121 at Yongsan is where you can give birth. You might be able to stork nest i.e. get Tricare to pay for lodging shortly before you give birth. Some other bases/posts may be able to take care of your prenatal care. It's best to ask since things are always changing.

On Base Care for Your Newborn
Your newborn will be able to be seen on base for the first 120 days. Check with the appointment line. Usually the pediatrician will reserve one day a week for appointments for non-CSP newborns. I think at Osan it was Thursday.
 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Tricare and Doulas

I talked about Tricare Overseas and home births a few months ago. Unfortunately, Tricare Overseas does not cover home births. Shame on them.

Tricare claims their "primary objectives are to optimize the delivery of health care services in the military's direct care system for all Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries and attain the highest level of patient satisfaction through the delivery of a world-class health care benefit." How they do that by limiting the choices women to giving birth by not reimbursing women for overseas home births by a midwife is beyond me.

But let's not hold a grudge, let's talk about doulas. According to Tricare, they only cover medically necessary services. They specifically say they will not cover non-medical support during labor and delivery and mention doulas.

Source

Sometimes Tricare Pays for Doulas
Even though Tricare says they don't reimburse for doulas, some women have had doulas covered. Most hospitals and clinics don't break down their bills into super small parts.

For example, while in the hospital, you probably interacted with a few nurses during your stay. However, when you get your bill, it's not likely that you'll be billed for each one. They often get lumped together. Or how about the secretary? You're not likely to see a fee on your bill for talking to her. Another example is your room. You are probably not billed individually for the water, electricity, or sheets that you use. There's probably just a room charge.

Some birthing facilities include doulas in their fees and when they send you their bill, the doula is simply included. Sometimes the doula may be a nurse as well, so it's understandable that Tricare would reimburse families for this fee, especially if they provide medical services during your labor and delivery. Sometimes they're not nurses and Tricare still ends up indirectly covering the cost.

HOW does this happen? Because it's included in the birthing fee.
Some places may even charge the same amount whether or not you use a doula. It's kind of like the room fee. If you take super long showers, you're going to be charged the same amount as someone who doesn't take a shower during their stay.

Bottom Line: Tricare Has Paid for Doulas
Depending on how your birthing facility breaks down their bill, Tricare may end up paying for your doula.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Home Births and Tricare Overseas (Examples from South Korea)

Updated 11 September 2018

Tricare Overseas is not like Tricare stateside. A few women recently had home births in Korea and filed claims with Tricare Standard (now Select). After a year of going back and forth, with Tricare asking for more and more documentation and these women being reassured that Tricare would reimburse them, Tricare finally issued their response: they wouldn't cover it. None of it was covered. These women were about $8,000 out of pocket. The home births took place with staff from MediFlower.

Switching to Tricare Select for Pregnancy
Starting January 1, 2019 you will no longer be allowed to switch to Select due to pregnancy. What this means is that if you have Prime, you would need to do one of the following

• Get a referral to get the birth you want.
• Pay completely out of pocket (OOP).*
• Switch during a QLE (qualifying life event, not pregnancy, but for example, a move).
• Switch during the the annual late fall 90 day open enrollment period.

However, while being pregnant isn't a reason to switch, having a baby is a QLE. So you can switch back after the baby is born.

* Costs vary greatly if you decide to pay out of pocket. A midwife for a homebirth can be 3.5-8mil. A birthing center can be 3-15mil.

What Kind of Labor and Delivery is Covered?

On Tricare's website it states that labor and delivery are covered. On that page, they also say . . .

Facility/Provider
Usually, your TRICARE plan determines the type of birthing facility you will use (military or civilian, office-based or freestanding, etc.). You also have different options for the type of provider who delivers your baby (obstetrician, Family practice provider and or Certified nurse midwife, etc.). These types of decisions will be made by you and your provider during your prenatal visits. 

However, there is no mention of home births, just certified nurse midwives. All midwives in Korea are CNMs.

What about Home Births?

Tricare Standard (now Select) actually does mention home births. The December 2015 Tricare Maternity Care Fact Sheet talks about choosing to deliver at home and what the cost shares are. 

Source

Contacting Tricare on Facebook and the Tricare Overseas Hotline

That sounds promising, doesn't it? Don't get your hopes up. I contacted them on Facebook since the Tricare Overseas hotline kept saying home births should be fine when I talked to a representation after pressing 3 (for claims).

Source

Calling Tricare Overseas, Again

About a week later, I called the Tricare Overseas hotline, again. This time instead of calling about claims, I pressed 2 (for referrals and authorizations). I said it looks like home births are covered but women in Korea are repeatedly getting denied. They put me on hold and came back and said home births are considered home health care and home health care is not covered overseas. I couldn't believe it, but sure enough, you can find the information on Tricare's site as well. How in the world they consider home birth to be the same as an illness or injury is beyond me, but that's Tricare for you!

Source

The funny part is that they're wrong. (I know, you're shocked that Tricare is wrong). Home births are not home care. So why aren't home births being covered? It's because of the midwives.

Are Korean Midwives Covered?

The midwives they went through also work at a birthing center in Seoul. Tricare Overseas will cover births at that birthing center (MediFlower), but won't cover home births. Tricare says they cover midwife services if they're state licensed and certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Korean midwife do not fulfill those requirements, so why is Tricare reimbursing patients who give birth at the birthing center but not those who give birth at home? When women give birth at the birthing center, a doctor is put down on the invoice since there is always a doctor on call. The midwife is then put down as a nurse. The same is not true for home births: the midwife is simply put down.

Source

Bottom Line: Tricare is Not Covering Home Births in Korea

It's not fair to women to be told that home births are covered and then to find out they're stuck paying the full bill. Had these women known, they may have gone to birthing centers or chosen a less expensive midwife.

Tricare's Convoluted Stance on Home Birth Overseas

On Tricare's website it states that labor and delivery are covered. However, there is no mention of home births, just certified nurse midwives (CNM). All midwives in Korea are CNMs. Tricare claims that home births overseas fall under home health care and therefore don't cover them. Home birth really isn't home care. If Tricare doesn't want to cover home births overseas, that's up to them, however, they should update their maternity section and specifically list home births.

If You Still Want to Have a Home Birth, Read This:

If you're going to have a home birth in Korea, here's a list of providers. You might also want to consider reading The Essential Homebirth Guide as well as getting some birthing supplies together.

I personally believe that women should allow to choose where they give birth as long as they are able to do so safely. Hopefully Tricare will change. I just wouldn't hold my breath. Since Tricare isn't covering home births overseas, you have three options.

1. Choose a cheaper midwife. MediFlower is great, don't get me wrong, but they're also more than double what other birthing centers charge for people with Tricare.
2. Choose to give birth wherever you want and pay out of pocket. Don't bother filing a claim.
3. Go to the USA and find a CNM who will do home births.  

Tips for Dealing with Tricare or any Medical Insurance Company

This medical hack below has lots of tips to help you out. Many times the people dealing with claims are paid minimum wage and have no medical background. They're simply checking boxes. If a claim is denied, it's usually because certain boxes aren't check. The last thing you want to do is have someone with no medical background making decisions about your health coverage! So follow these tips below if your claims are denied. (This will not work for home births in Korea since they don't fulfill Tricare Overseas requirements).

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Sharing Breastmilk in Korea: Donating and Receiving

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Updated 11 September 2018

I know that moms share breastmilk both formally and informally. As a La Leche League Leader, I can only recommend the former, however, LLL allows me to  give "information and support, including information about the benefits and risks of such practices as induced lactation, relactation, wet-nursing, or cross-nursing."

The World Health Organization says that if a baby cannot be breastfed by his or her mother, then expressed breastmilk from the baby's mother, breastmilk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breastmilk substitute should be given in that order.

Ultimately, I can provide information. It is up to you to make the decision along with your health care provider. 

Milk Banks
There are only two milk banks in Korea. In order to get milk from the milk bank, your baby has to be a preemie or have a documented illness. If you want to donate, they will require a test for STDs plus a hepatitis B vaccination. You will have to pay for both of these. I'm not sure how hard it is for non-Korean speaking foreigners to donate milk. I imagine it's like donating blood. In theory, it's possible; in practice, very difficult.
Donating milk to milk banks was in the Korean news. You can see the story here.

• KyungHee University Hospital at Kangdong in Seoul. The phone number is 02-440-7731.
• Iksan Jeil Hospital. The phone number is 063-840-7629, 2300

How much milk do you need?
There's an article by KellyMom which explains that babies aged 1-6 months need about 19-30 oz (570-900 ml) of breastmilk per day. Some women get milk from one other women, while others get milk from many different women. Some also supplement with formula. I do not know how much Korean milk banks charge for milk. I know in the USA, it's about $4 an ounce.

Pasteurizing the milk
In milk banks, the milk goes through a pasteurization process. That's not the case if you connect directly with another mom. You need to be able to trust the mom you get the milk from.

Some families decide to pasteurize any and all donor milk they use. Sometimes the baby doesn't like the taste of donated breastmilk. Scalding the breastmilk can help. Eats on Feets also has information on two different ways to pasteurize milk. Milkshare has good info on how to screen mothers that you're getting milk from.

Milk sharing resources, risks, and benefits
I highly encourage you to read these articles as well as do your own research before making a decision. Only you can decide what is right for you and your child.

• AWHONN has an article on informal milk sharing.
• Breastfeeding USA wrote about milk sharing: formal and informal.
• Eats on Feets wrote about things to keep in mind if you're going to be donating or getting donated breastmilk as well as about risks.
• The FDA has an article on donor human milk.  
• Feed the Baby LLC has information on milk sharing.
• Here's what La Leche League has to say about it. 
• Milkshare has good info on how to screen mothers you're getting milk from.  
• The World Health Organization has a PDF covering lots of info.
• U.S. News wrote about the dangers of sharing breastmilk.

Where to Find Breastmilk Sharing Communities in Korea

Please check the milk sharing resources mentioned above. MMKorea Nursing Support has information on how to send breastmilk. Most families will pay for the breastmilk storage bags as well as shipping costs.

Eats on Feets: Here are the current offers and requests.
 

Human Milk 4 Human Babies (HM4HB) - South Korea: You can message this group and they will post on your behalf whether it be an offer or a request.

MMKorea Nursing Support: This is not a milk sharing group, but a peer-to-peer breastfeeding support group. With that being said, it's Korea-wide and women are usually able to help.

Local parenting or mom groups: Someone often knows someone. Some women have been known to pump specifically for another baby.

Check military groups: Often moms who PCS have to get rid of loads of milk. If you know someone who's military, ask them if they can post on your behalf.

Other Breastmilk Sharing Options: Currently Not Available in Korea

MilkShare
They have an email list they send out. It's geared towards women in the USA. However, maybe someone in Korea could set up something similar.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Where to Buy a New Breast Pump in Korea

Spectra S1: Buy from Amazon

When planning on what to get for your baby, you need to consider how you will raise your child. Different people will spend money on different things. Pumps can be expensive but you can also put them on your baby registry.

How Long is a Pump Good For?

Many people make the mistake of asking long a pump is good for. The problem with this is that pumps aren't good for weeks, months, or years, they're good for a certain number of hours. Most breast pumps are good for about 400 hours.

• Someone has a baby in the NICU and they need to pump 10 times a day for about 20 minutes each time. After one month of doing this, the pump would have clocked 100 hours. 



Spectra S2: Buy from Amazon

• Someone pumps twice a day for 10 minutes each time. Assume that they work 242 days in the year. After a year of doing this, they would only be at about 80 hours.

Closed vs. Open Breast Pumps
A closed pump keeps the milk from entering the tubing. The Pumping Mommy and Kelly Mom also have some great info about why you should buy a closed breast pump, especially if you're buying a used one. Closed pumps are WHO compliant. Open pumps are not.

Closed Breast Pumps
Here are some closed breast pumps. There are hospital-grade, double electric pumps, single electric pumps, and single manual pumps. Be sure to read the reviews to see which one would be best for you. I always read the negative reviews first. You can also filter them to only see verified purchases.

• Ameda Elite, Platinum, and Purely Yours
• Ardo Calypso, Calypso-to-go, and Carum
• Avent Double Electric Breast Pump, ISIS IQ Uno, and ISIS IQ Uno Complete
• Bailey Nurture III, Nurture III Basic, and Nurture III Deluxe
• Evenflo Comfort Select Dual
• First Years Natural Comfort Double
• Freemie Freedom and Equality
• Hygeia EnDeare, EnJoye-EPS, EnJoye-EXT, EnJoye-LBI, and EnJoye-LBI Professional
• Lansinoh Affinity Pro, Double Electric, and Signature Pro
• Limerick PJ's Bliss and Comfort 
• Lucina Melodi One
• Medela Lactina, Symphony, and Swing
• Playtex Embrace
• Rumble Tuff Serene Express Duo 
• Spectra 9, Dew, M1, S1, and S2

Stores
Baby Fairs are a good place to check out different breast pumps. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a pump at a baby fair than at a store. Stores dedicated to families, such as Moms Mom and Toys R Us
may have them. Bigger department stores such as Lotte and Shinsaegae may as well. In Lotte in Myeongdong, there is a place called BB on the 7th floor that has some pumps. Around women's hospitals there are often stores dedicated to families and some bigger hospitals may actually have a store inside. Mothercare is located inside Homeplus and they may have some pumps. Sunny Smart Shopping and Go Wonderfully are services that can help you locate a pump whether from a brick-and-mortar store or an online store. 


Online direct from companies

• 11th Street
• Baby Mini Mall
• Coupang 
• Dawa 
• Gmarket
 

Online from people
Sometimes people buy a pump or are given a pump and never use it. You might find one listed on one of the sites below. 

• Craigslist
• Flea Market
• Kids in Korea Swap & Sell
• Korea Maternity/Baby Gear Sale Extravaganza
• Osan Flea Market for moms, babies, and toddlers 
• Osan Mom Swap
• Seoul Buy and Sell
• Seoul Military Buy and Sell
• Seoul Mamas
• Stuff for Sale

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Where to Buy a Used Breast Pump in Korea

Updated 8 May 2017

Spectra S2: Buy from Amazon

I know that breast pumps are expensive and many moms want to save money, however, used pumps can be unsafe. Some hospitals have pumps available, but rental pumps are different from used pumps. La Leche League explains more in their article. With that being said, some women buy new breast pumps and never use them. Sometimes they're still wrapped up in the original box. They often sell those pumps a little cheaper that what it would cost you to buy one online.

I honestly would not recommend buying a pump that has actually been used. I understand that some women do this, however, it would recommend against doing it. Save up and buy a new one or try to find someone who has bought a pump but never actually used it.

Closed vs. Open Breast Pumps
A closed breast pump keeps the milk from entering the tubing. The Pumping Mommy and Kelly Mom also have some great info about why you should buy a closed breast pump, especially if you're buying a used one. Closed pumps are WHO compliant. Open pumps are not.

Closed Breast Pumps
Here are some closed breast pumps. There are hospital-grade, double electric pumps, single electric pumps, and single manual pumps. Be sure to read the reviews to see which one would be best for you. I always read the negative reviews first.

• Ameda: Elite, Platinum, and Purely Yours
• Ardo: Calypso, Calypso-to-go, and Carum
• Avent: Double Electric Breast Pump, ISIS IQ Uno, and ISIS IQ Uno Complete
• Bailey: Nurture III, Nurture III Basic, and Nurture III Deluxe
• Evenflo: Comfort Select Dual
• First Years: Natural Comfort Double
• Freemie: Freedom and Equality
• Hygeia: EnDeare, EnJoye-EPS, EnJoye-EXT, EnJoye-LBI, and EnJoye-LBI Professional
• Lansinoh: Affinity Pro, Double Electric, and Signature Pro
• Limerick PJ's: Bliss and Comfort 
• Lucina: Melodi One
• Medela: Lactina, Symphony, and Swing
• Playtex: Embrace
• Rumble Tuff: Serene Express Duo 
• Spectra: 9, Dew, M1, S1, and S2

Why to Find Breast Pumps in Korea
Check other buy and sell or flea market Facebook groups near you. Start looking early as they tend to sell quickly. Remember, you're looking for a pump that someone has bought, but never used.

• Maternity Extravaganza
• Osan Flea Market for Parents, Babies, and Toddlers
• Seoul Buy and Sell
• Seoul Military Buy and Sell
• Yongsan Flea Market

More Links and Storage Guidelines
My post about Breastfeeding Awareness Month has many useful links to help with breastfeeding. Make sure you are storing your milk properly. Here's a quick guide. 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

How to Get Your Child into Modeling in Korea

Updated 5 October 2016

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There are many modeling opportunities for children here in Korea. Please know what you are getting into. Just because you may want your child to be a model, doesn't mean they do. You might have to travel for hours and then spend even more hours doing a shoot. It's hard work. Don't believe me? Here's what professional models have to say about modelling. Below you can find information about the legalities as well as suggested agencies that people have worked with in the past.

Legalities
First off, for a foreigner to work in Korea you need a proper visa or "an activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa. Income must be declared and taxes may have to be paid on the income. If you don't have the proper visa or work without prior permission from immigration (which means you go to immigration and get an "activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa), then you will be working illegally. I know that some agencies will tell you that it's fine and that since it's cash-in-hand or just once in a while or not that much money that it's fine. They're lying.

Don't take my word for it. Call immigration on 1345 during normal business hours (they have a lunch break from 12-1pm) or if you're military you can call Legal. I called both and asked about E2, F3, and A3 visas. See below for other visas. I just asked about these three since they are common. Working on these visas without prior permission (which you get an "activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa) from immigration is illegal. Period.

If you are on your own visa (ex. an E2) and caught working illegally you can be fined and/or deported. If you are a dependent (such as those on A3 or F3 visas,) then both you (or the child, if they are working illegally) and your sponsor can get into trouble. If your sponsor is with the U.S. military and you can caught, this could reflect negatively on your sponsor's career.

What are the actual chances that you will be caught? They're slim. I'll be honest. However, people do get caught. If the agency fudges their numbers and gets caught, or someone turns you in, then you're going to have problems. Many people just get a fine and a slap on the wrist, but I have known people who were faced with deportation. As bad as it sounds, gender and race also play a part. I've known white women and black men who were caught working illegally. The former get off with a small fine and the latter often get larger fines and threatened with deportation.

Children are not the exception to the rule. Just because they are underage does not mean they can work illegally. They can also be fined. Since you are the adult, you also may face consequences.

Visas that Require Permission from Immigration to do Modeling
Here are some visas that need permission from immigration to do something, i.e., modeling, that is outside their visa status. Immigration calls it "an activity outside of your sojourn". This is not a complete list. As mentioned before, contact immigration on 1345 and ask. Do not trust the modeling agency. They are not experts in immigration issues, nor due they issue visas. Immigration is the only place in the entire country that is entirely responsible for visas. The military Legal office isn't a visa expert either. If you are caught working illegally, Legal is not going to be able to get you out of being punished.

In order to get permission for "activities outside your sojourn", you will need to go to immigration and fill out the appropriate paperwork. At the very minimum you will need your passport, alien card (if you have one, and everyone who lives here is legally entitled to an alien card (even SOFA visa holders)), fee, application form, business license from the modeling agency, and contract.

• A3 SOFA: You are allowed to be a dependent here. That's it. Just because other people do it doesn't make it legal.
• B2 tourist: for people who have to apply ahead of time, such as Chinese citizens.
• C3 tourist: given as a VOA (visa on arrival).
• D2 student: if you fulfill certain requirements you may not need permission from immigration. Contact immigration for more info. 
• D10 looking for work: you're allowed to look for work, not actually work. Once you get a job you need to get the appropriate visa. This visa is given for a max of 6 months.
• E1 professor: for those working at a uni that will actually go through the paperwork of getting an E1. Most unis give E2s.
• E2 language teacher: for those at hagwons, public and private schools, and many unis.
• F3 spouse of a foreigner: if your spouse is working in Korea you will get this visa. It's like the A3. You're allowed to live here, not work or study.

Visas that Don't Require Permission from Immigration
Here are some visas that don't require you to get permission from immigration to work or study. Keep in mind that you still legally need to declare your income and may have to pay taxes on it.

• F2 resident: this was for foreigners married to Koreans, but now they get the F6. This is now for people who get enough points or fulfill the requirements to become residents on their own.
• F4 gyopo: for those of Korean heritage, such as Korean adoptees or children of Korean citizens.
• F5 permanent resident: for those who have held an F2 or F6 for the specific amount of time.
• F6 marriage: for those married to Korean citizens.

What's Required to Become a Model
You will need to give certain information to the agency in order for them to keep you in mind for modeling jobs. They will usually ask for the following. . .

• Name
• Measurements (for a child this is just their height)
• Weight
• Age (remember Korean age is different than Western age. It's often easier to give them the date of birth rather than the age)
• Hair color
• Eye color
• Visa type
• Nationality
• Clothing size
• Shoe size (Korea uses millimeters. It's very easy. Just measure your child's shoe and round up to the nearest 5 mm.  
• 3-5 good photos of the child. You might consider getting them taken professionally. Here's a list of photographers who specialise in photos of children. 
• Contact info, such as email and cell phone

Modeling Agencies
Below are some modeling agencies that foreigners have worked with. You can send your child's information to all of them. There is no exclusively, unless you sign a contract and it states that you can only be with that agency. The more places that have your child's profile, the better the chance they have of getting booked. You can usually apply online through their websites. If that doesn't work, try contacting them on Facebook. Even if their Facebook page hasn't been updated in a while, don't worry. Koreans still haven't really jumped on the Facebook train. All of these places are listed because people have recently worked with them.

4B Film

• 4Bfilm@gmail.com

About International Modeling Agency

• Facebook and Michelle Miles (casting director) and Stephanie Williams (casting manager)

Baby and Kids Model

• A group on Facebook where models and agencies can post. 

Baby Asia

• Facebook

Diva Models

• Tatiane Choi (casting manager), cell is 010-5146-2606 and kakao is choiane

DOBE Entertainment

• Facebook and Angela Jeong (manager)

JJang Entertainment

• Facebook and Per Pettersson (CEO)

MOMA International Modeling Agency

• Facebook

Platinum Management

• Facebook and Yulia Kim (director)

Sites in Seoul

• This is not a modeling agency, but many times agents will post here about jobs. 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Infertility Treatments, IUI, and IVF in Korea

Updated 7 August 2018

This information was compiled from AngloInfo Seoul, KISS, personal experience, and word of mouth. Trying to get pregnant can be a very emotional problem for couples suffering from infertility.

Good Resources

Buy from Amazon

TCOYF by Toni Weschler (Taking Charge of Your Fertility) is an amazing book with information on how to get pregnant and how to avoid getting pregnant. It's the leading book on fertility and women's reproductive health. You might also try reading some of these recommended books about fertility and infertility.

Support in Korea
KISS (Korea Infertility Support System) is a good support group for those in Korea trying to get pregnant. PCOS (& Endometriosis) Support in Korea also has good info.

Hospitals and Fertility Clinics

Korea has hospitals and clinics that are world-renown for IVF and IUI. There is no wait limit. You don't have to wait 6 months if you're over 35 or 1 year if you're under 35; you can go when you want and get tested to make sure that there are no problems and they can start treatment right away.

Legally speaking, Korea only allows fertility procedures to be done to married couples. Be prepared for the hospitals or clinics to ask for your marriage certificate or proof of marriage. Below you can find places that specialize in infertility. You might also be interested in hospitals and birthing clinics in Korea.

Prices

There are many things that influence the price you will pay such as which hospital or clinic you go to, what treatment you require, whether or not one of you is a Korean citizen, what insurance you have, and whether or not the doctor gives you a discount (Some foreigners have received discounts up to 65% and pay what Korean citizens would pay for that particular treatment. I'm not sure why they get discounts or if they ask for them. Some people have said they develop a rapport with their doctor or their doctor takes pity on them. It might be worth asking for a discount.).

There is a government program for people with Korean health insurance (at least one of you must be a Korean citizen) to help with fertility costs. Your hospital would have to give you the documents, then you would go to the 보건서 (public health center) for the grant, which is about 1.9 mil won. The grant is good for 3 fresh cycles and 2-3 frozen cycles (though if you don't do a frozen cycle you can get 1 more fresh cycle covered).

Procedures vary by hospital and depend on what insurance you have. Here's a breakdown of what it cost at Marie Fertility Clinic in Daejeon in 2013 and what it cost at Seoul Rachel Fertility Center in 2014. Below you can find average prices. 

• IVF costs about 1-10 mil total (with 3-5 mil being the average per cycle)
• IUI costs about 500,000-2 mil total

Here are some costs that you might incur on average. Ask your doctor since prices vary. 

• Beta tests: 20,000-30,000
• Blood tests: 60,000-200,000
• Egg retrival: 500,000-2,000,000
• Embryo transfer: 500,000-1,000,000
• Freezing embryos: 250,000-500,0000
• Pills, Injectables, suppositories, and pessaries (ex. clomid, femara, menopur, GnRH, and ovidril): 25,000-300,000 per set
• Semen analysis: 20,000-35,000 
• Trigger shots: 20,000
• Ultrasounds/sonograms: 30,000-60,000 for regular ones and 100,000-140,000 for 3D ones. (Starting Oct. 1st, 2016 prices will drop by 70% if you have national health insurance. Here's the info in Korean and in English.)

Blogs about infertility in Korea
A good place to connect with other people who are suffering from infertility in Korea is KISS (Korea Infertility Support System). There are also some people who blog about it.

• Kimchi's Kid  
• Stay Inside Baby!
• The Empty Womb on twitter @emptymamma

Once You're Pregnant
Educating yourself is key to getting a good birth. Taking a prenatal class, such as a birthing, breastfeeding, and newborn care class will help you adjust to life with your new baby. Having someone on your side, such as a doula, helps as well. Check out the list of breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, and doulas.

SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO

Cha Fertility Center: Seoul
569 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 3468-3000 or (02) 3468-3439


Cha Fertility Center: Bundang
16 Yaptap-ro 65 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam
Tel: (031) 780-5000 or (031) 1577-4488

 
Cheil General Hospital and Healthcare Center: Seoul
17 Seoae-ro, 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 200-7357


Cheil Women's Clinic Bundang: BundangInfertility clinic

27 Seonhyeon-ro, 180 beon-gil, Bundang-gu
(031) 725-8500


Dr. Sung's Clinic: Seoul
3rd Floor Hyundai Liberty House
258 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 790-0802

• Everyone speaks English there. 

Dr. Yoo Women's Hospital (유광사여성병원): Seoul
194 Gangseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
Tel: 1588-3006 or (02) 2608-1011

• Don't go on the weekends or you'll end up waiting a few hours. It's operated on a first come, first serve basis, even if you have an appointment. 
• There's no point making an appointment. Just walk-in during the week.
• The doctor speaks English, but the nurses and office staff don't. 

Fiona Clinic: Seoul
3rd Floor Dana Plaza
337 Sanggye 2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 591-7111


Haesung Obstetric Gynecology: Cheonan
18-11 Mila 2-gil (Sangyeong-dong 1197), Seobuk-gu, Cheonan
Tel: (041) 572-4567

• Dr Lee Kwang Yeol and Dr Moon speak English very well. The nurses and receptionist don't really speak English. 

Inje Paik Hospital: various locations

• Located in Busan, Gimhae, Ilsan, and Seoul

Maria Fertility Hospital: various locations

• Located in Bucheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ilsan, Pyungchon, Seoul, and New York. 

Marie Clinic: Seoul
76-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 541-9114


Miz Medi: Seoul
1021-4 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 1588-2701 or (02) 3467-3814


NHIS Ilsan Hospital: Ilsan
100 Ilsan-ro, Ilsan dong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do
(031) 900-6965

• Owned by NHS. The translator doesn't speak English well.

Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital: Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek-ro 284, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do
Tel: (070) 5012-3420

• There's one male fertility doctor on staff. He hasn't spoken English to me, but the international center is amazing. I've met two women there who are RNs in the USA. They speak perfect English and understand the culture as well. 
• They have experience dealing with foreigners as well as military. 
• In 2015, they had an IVF success rate of 53%.
• They are famous for IVF south of the Han River.

SAM Medical Center: Gunpo
730 Dangdong, Gunpo
Tel: (031) 467-1000


Sarang-i IVF Center: Seoul
Baekjaegobun-ro 69 (Jamsil-dong 175 beongil), Apple Tower 3F, Songpi-gu
Tel: (02) 419-7501 and (02) 419-7502


Seoul Rachel Fertility Center: Seoul
2nd Floor Lotte City Hotel
109 Mapodae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 3286-7500


Shes Medi: Suwon
288 Jangdari-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon
Telephone: (031) 231-7400

• English speaking. They have some information on their blog about their services. Their website is also in English.

Yale OBGYN: Pyeongtaek
Hapjeong-dong 757-3, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031) 656-3885 and (031) 659-7360

• There are only male doctors but the nurses, office staff, and doctors speak English.

Yonsei Severance Hospital: Seoul
134 Shinchon-dong, Sudaemun-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 392-3404 or (02) 2228-1009
Emergency: (02) 361-2540
International Clinic: (02) 2228-5800 or (02) 2228-5810

OUTSIDE OF SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO

Cha Fertility Center: various locations

• Located in Daegu and Gumi

Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital: Hwasun
322 Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam
Tel: (061) 379-7892 or (061) 379-8599



Creation and Love: Gwangju
13-21 Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 368-1700


Elle Medi: Changwon
540 beongi, Dangcheon-dong, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do
Tel: (055) 252-2111, (055) 252-2112, or (055) 252-2113


Good Moonhwa Hospital: Busan
899-8  Beom-il2-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, 601-803
Tel: (051) 644-2002 or (051) 630-0123


Hyosung Hospital: Daegu
105-2 beon-gil, Jung-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu
Tel: (053) 766-7073


Ilsin Christian Hospital: Busan
Donggu, Jungkandan-ro 27
(051) 630-0300 (main) or (051) 630-0597 (Infertility clinic. Ask for Nurse Bora. She speaks English)

• There is only one doctor there, Dr. Seol, but she is fluent in English and patiently answers questions. 

Inje Paik Hospital: various locations

• Located in Busan, Gimhae, Ilsan, and Seoul

Joy Mom Baby (조이맘 산부인과): Daegu 
8th Floor Banwol Medical Tower (Namsan-dong)
359 Jungandae-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
Tel: (053) 254-5252 or (053) 254-5292


Kwangju Christian Hospital: Gwangju
37 Yangnim-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 650-5000


Mari Fertility Clinic: Daegu
ezezlee@hanmail.net
Beomeo-dong, Apple Tower 5F, Daegu
Tel: (053) 745-5888

• Has good reviews from foreigners.

Maria Fertility Hospital: various locations

• Located in Bucheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ilsan, Pyungchon, Seoul, and New York. 

Premedi: Gwangju
Myeongan Building 4F, 950 Moonjindae-lo, Seogu, Gwangju
Tel: (062) 363-6655


Saewha Fertility Clinic: Busan
132 beon-gil 28, Minam-ro, Donglae-gu, Busan
Tel: (051) 505-1333

• Known to be professional and foreigner-friendly. 
• People travel from other countries just to go to this clinic. 
• Very advanced technology. 

Seoul Women's Hospital: Daejeon 
1143 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon
Tel: (042) 488-8275
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

A Completely Hands Off Birth Plan for the 121 (American military hospital in Yongsan, Korea)

Introduction
Birth plans are very helpful and even more so if you're birthing in Korea where you may not speak the language and the culture may be very different. Here in Korea, the doctor is all-knowing and patients don't ask questions. The doctor is the expert and does whatever he or she sees fit. Sitting down with your doctor and having them read, sign, and stamp your birth plan will help you both. This link and this link have more info.

Get at least two copies (one for you and one for your doctor) and have them in both English and Korean (get a friend to help or if all else fails use Google Translate). Bring it to the hospital with you. If necessary, when you're in labor you can point out (in Korean) what the doctor has agreed to when the nurse comes over and tries to do something that you don't want.

You might decide to change hospitals if your doctor doesn't agree most of your requests. Enemas, shaving, episiotomies, laboring on your back with IVs and epidurals are common here. As are C-sections, with the national average around 30%, which is similar to the USA.

Every hospital is different and even within hospitals, doctors have different ideas. If you're trying to avoid a C-section, knowing your doctor's C-section rate is important. Also ask about your hospital C-section rate since you might not always get your doctor for the birth.

Useful Links and Sample Birth Plans
Here's a list of hospitals and clinics that foreigners have gone to. Here's a list of doulas, breastfeeding counselors, and childbirth educators. Below you can find A Completely Hands Off (for the 121) Birth Plan. I also have more sample birth plans on my birthing plans for Korea post. I don't deserve credit for any of them as I haven't written any of them. I've linked to them as well as copied and pasted them in the posts.

A Completely Hands Off Birth Plan for the 121 (American military hospital at Yongsan)
This was taken from Facebook.

Parents:
Guess Date:

Pre Labor: 
• Attendants will be: husband, doulas, and children.
• Please, no vaginal checks. (This is to decrease risk of infection, premature rupture of waters and unconsented membrane stripping.)

 Labor Stage 1
• Attendants will be present with mother at all times, through all stages of labor.
• My goal is to labor outside of the hospital as long as possible and request to be sent home if labor is not progressing quickly.
• Please allow me to use my birthing ball and I would request showers for pain relief.
• No IV or Hep Lock will be consented too.
• Please, no internal monitoring at all. o If you feel fetal heart monitoring is necessary please use a Doppler. (External monitoring will be allowed intermittently and if medically necessary.)
• No vaginal exams, for the reasons stated above.
• No pitocin or otherlabor inducing drugs.
• No epidural.
• Please do no try to restrict my food or drink intake.
• No premature breaking of waters, or membrane stripping. This will not be consented too, and may be considered assault.
• Please, no movement limitations. I change positions very often in labor.
• No stir-ups will be needed.
• No hospital gowns, please. I will bring my own.
• Lights off or dimmed. Please allow me to have a quiet, dark environment for my birth.
• Please no extra staff.
• Please allow me to decide when to push. Please do not yell at me or count while I am pushing. And please do not put time restrictions on pushing.

Labor 2nd Stage 
• No episiotomy will be consented to. (Massage with oil brought from home and a warm wash cloth will be fine.)
• Please do not use forceps.
• If you can see that it is a nuchal cord I request that you leave him or if you are well versed in the somersault technique you may try that, you may not pull, tug or try to unwrap the cord.
• If he is born with a nuchal cord, this is not a cause to cut the cord, so please do not.
• Please do not put a time limit on my delivery.

After Birth 
• No pitocin, uterine massage, or cord pulling to deliver placenta
• Please place baby immediately on my chest. o This is for skin to skin contact and it's known benefits as well as to help initiate breast feeding.
• Do not cut the cord, we will be leaving the cord intact until it stops pulsating. We feel this is the easiest and healthiest way to help our baby transition into the world and request you respect our decision.
• Do not bathe our baby, do not wipe the baby down, do not towel off the baby. We would like to leave the vernix on the baby. This is to help with temperature regulation, to protect against infection and to help the baby regulate his skin PH. Thank you for respecting our decision.
• If tearing happens and stitching is needed, please use a local anesthetic.
• Our baby will stay with parents at all times. No nursery visits.
• We request that you delay all routine exams for a minimum of 1 hour to allow for family bonding.
• Please perform all exams in the room with parents present.
• Do not give our baby any shots. We choose not to vaccinate and therefore do not consent to the Hep B shot, Vit. K shot or antibiotic ointment eye jelly.
• We will be exclusively breast feeding. Please do not give baby, bottles, pacifiers, artificial nipples, formula or water. Please do not suggest nipple shields.
• Please expedite our discharge as soon as possible. As long as there are no complications we would like to leave within 24 hours. This will help us start to settle quickly and will help you by providing more room.

I understand this plan may be inconvenient for you and your staff. Please be assured that we have researched everything in great detail. Know that I have birthed two other healthy babies and am very familiar and comfortable with my own birth process. Please respect our wishes, even if they are against your hospital policies, these are the decisions we have made, and we know our Patients Bill of Rights. Please know that we will be forced to consider any unconsented interventions an assault on mother and baby. Thank you for taking the time to read our wishes, and for respecting our decisions as parents.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Birth Plans for Korea

Updated 19 February 2016

Birth plans are very helpful and even more so if you're birthing in Korea where you may not speak the language and the culture may be very different. Here in Korea, the doctor is all-knowing and patients don't ask questions. The doctor is the expert and does whatever he or she sees fit. Sitting down with your doctor and having them read, sign, and stamp your birth plan will help you both.

Get at least two copies (one for you and one for your doctor) and have them in both English and Korean (get a friend to help or if all else fails use Google Translate). Bring it to the hospital with you. If necessary, when you're in labor you can point out (in Korean) what the doctor has agreed to when the nurse comes over and tries to do something that you don't want.

Do Your Research
You might decide to change hospitals if your doctor doesn't agree most of your requests. Enemas, shaving, episiotomies, laboring on your back with IVs and epidurals are common here. As are C-sections, with the national average around 30%, which is similar to the USA.

Every hospital is different and even within hospitals, doctors have different ideas. If you're trying to avoid a C-section, knowing your doctor's C-section rate is important. Also ask about your hospital C-section rate since you might not always get your doctor for the birth.

Useful Links and Sample Birth Plans
Here's a list of hospitals and clinics that foreigners have gone to. Here's a list of doulas, breastfeeding counselors, and childbirth educators.

Here are the birth plans that I've found. Most of them are specifically for Korea. Two of them: Birthing Miracles and Earthy Mama Angel Baby aren't for Korea, but they bring up a lot of options so I've decided to include them. I don't deserve credit for any of these birth plans as I haven't written any of them. I've linked to them as well as copied and pasted them in the posts. You can also write your own birth plan. This link and this link have more info.

• Birthing in Korea's Birth Plan (English and Korean)
• Birthing Miracles' Birth Plan (English)
• Completely Hands Off Birth Plan for the 121 (American military hospital at Yongsan) (English)
• Earthy Mama Angel Baby's Birth Plan (English)
• Mama Seoul's Birth Plan (English and Korean) 
• A Shorter Birth Plan (English and Korean)  
• Visual Birth Plan (English with pictures)

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Hospitals and Birthing Centers in Korea

Updated 10 September 2018

This information was compiled from AFIK, Expat Parents Korea!, Gwangju Guide, Korea4Expats, Morning Calm Birthing Services, Pregnancy Information Korea, Pregnant in Korea, Reliable Clinics by 10Mag, and word of mouth.

Having a baby in Korea can be challenging due to culture and customs. Usually doctors are seen as all-knowing experts and patients don't dare to question them. Things are changing and they have definitely come a long way in a short time.

Getting Support
Educating yourself is key to getting a good birth. Taking a prenatal class, such as a birthing, breastfeeding, and newborn care class will help you adjust to life with your new baby. Having someone on your side, such as a doula, helps as well. Check out the list of breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, and doulas.

Where to Give Birth
There are many options available here. You can give birth at a hospital, women's clinic, natural birthing center, or even at home. The Korean Hospital Association has a useful map of hospitals around Korea. (Remember to use IE when opening Korean websites. Other browsers don't work well.) Morning Calm Birthing Services has a useful chart in English that allows you to easily compare some of the most popular hospitals and birthing centers that foreigners go to. Tender Embrace Birthing also has a list of all the routine prenatal checks and tests that are done in Korea. Although they are routinely done, you can also can opt out of them.

Here are some questions you should ask while on your tour of the hospital or birthing center. What to Expect When You're Expecting also has great info on choosing where to give birth. 

Natural Birthing Centers in the Seoul Area
There are a handful of foreign-friendly natural birthing clinics in Seoul. Agitanseun (aka Rosa), GM Cheil, Lee Myung Hwa, Mamas' Birth Center, Medi Flower, and Yeon and Nature. Prices vary, but if you have Korean national health insurance, they should be 1.5-3 mil for the birth itself and between 6 hours-3 days of recovery time. If you have interventions, need a C-section, or need special care you may be charged extra. Be sure to ask about prices ahead of time. Remember you can use whatever is left on your GoEun Mom card for the birth. See below for more info.

Home Births
Home births are completely legal in Korea. Here's a list of English speaking doctors and midwives who will do home births. If you speak Korean, you will have more options (and usually pay less than what English speaking doctors and midwives charge). The Korean Midwives Association has a handful of midwives who do home births.

C-sections
They are common in Korea (around 33%), which is similar to the USA. Choosing a good place to give birth is key to getting the birth you want. Here is a consumer report about birthing centers, hospitals, and C-sections in Korea. (It's in Korean. Try using Google Translate to translate it from Korean to Japanese and then Japanese to English. That provides the best results. Remember to use IE when opening Korean websites. Other browsers don't work well.) 1 is the top score and 5 is the lowest. Those that have fewer than 30 births per month aren't rated. If you want to avoid a C-section, look into places that are rated 1 or 2.

GoEunMom Card 
Pregnant mums enrolled with the NHIC qualifies for pre-natal checkup discounts up to a limit of 500,000 (60,000 limit KRW per visit). More information here. You'll have to get a note from your doctor and take it to Shinhan or KB bank. You must have an account at one of those banks in order to get the card. You'll receive it in the mail a couple days later. If you don't use all the money before the baby is born you have until 60 (I think) days to use it after the baby is born to pay for baby related doctor visits and shots.

NICUs
Here's an article about NICUs (Neonatal Intensive Care Units) in Korea.

Infertility Treatments, IUIs, and IVFs in Korea
Here's an article with information and a list of hospitals and clinics that can help those seeking infertility treatment in Korea. 

SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO

Agitanseun Natural Birth Center (김옥진조산원)
Kim Okjin, Midwife aka "Rosa"
401-1, 3F Saeyang Chungmaru Sang-ga Naeson 2-dong, Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do 
경기도 의왕시 내손2동 401-1 세청마루상가 3F
Telephone: (031) 410-8597
Cell: 010-2447-8231 and 019-447-8231
ojkim80@hanmail.net
Near Indeogwon station

• 2.5 mil for a natural birth and 3 mil for a home birth. 
• She's a midwife and has over 20 years experience. She speaks English. Very popular with Koreans and foreigners, though I think foreigners pay more. It's a natural birthing center, though she does have pitocin and she will do vaccinations if you want them.
• It's very nice and cozy. There are two rooms, plus a waiting area, a bathroom, and a room with a tub. She's pretty much hands off, so you're free to walk around, use the birthing tub, birthing ball, listen to music, etc. She usually comes to your house after giving birth, to see how you are doing, do the PKU test, and take out stitches. She's got some strong opinions, like no vaccinations or vitamin K drops.

Asan Medical Center (Seoul Choongang Hospital)
388-1 Poongnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Telephone: 02-2224-3114
Emergency: 2224-3333 (after 5:30 p.m.)
International Clinic: (02) 3010-5001


Bless Birthing Center (열린가족조산원) ‎
1154-1 Jung 1-dong, Wonmi-Gu, Bucheon,Gyeonggi-do
경기도 부천시 원미구 중1동 1154-1
Telephone: 032-324-9900


Bombit Women's Hospital
1049-3 Hogye-dong, Anyang-si, Dongan-gu, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031) 380-7300


BOM Ultrasound Clinic
Located inside Good News Hospital
Bijeon 5-ro 3, (Bijeon-dong 1090), Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: 1800-5575 or (031) 668-0075

• An much better alternative than Imom.
• Walk-ins for regular ultrasounds. 3D and level 2 ultrasounds require an appointment. 

Cha General Hospital 
650-9 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 3468-3000
International Clinic: (02) 3468-2632 or (02) 3468-3127


Charm Women's Clinic (참산부인과)
63-1 Sunae-dong, Seongnam, Bundang-Gu, Gyeonggi-do,
성남시 분당구 수내동 63-1
Telephone: (031) 711-5005


Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center
1-19 Mukjeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul


Dongtan Jeil Women's Hospital
Hwaseong-si, Samsung 1-ro
Telephone: (031) 8015-9999

• The doctors speak English.  
• Private rooms have their own tubs. 

Dr. Sung’s Obstetric and Gynecology Clinic
2nd Floor Chung Wha Building, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 790-0802

• She does not deliver babies anymore and only sees women until their second trimester.

Esther Clinic
1003-112 Jukejeon, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031) 264-2722

• Dr. Song speaks English but most of the staff does not.

Gangnam Severance Hospital 
146-92 Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 2019-3600
International Clinic: (02) 3497-3600


GM Cheil Women's Clinic
896 Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone (02) 890-2555

• A new natural birthing center that opened in early 2016. There's an English speaking midwife named Julia who used to work at Yeon and Nature. GM Cheil is located on three floors. The 7th floor is where check-ups are done. The 8th floor is where the delivery rooms are. The 9th floor is where the recovery rooms and education room is. They offer epidurals and can do C-sections.
• Prices are about half what Medi Flower and Yeon and Nature charge. Expect to pay about 1.5 mil if you have national health insurance.
• You can read more about them at this post. 

Haesung Obstetric Gynecology
18-11 Mila 2-gil (Sangyeong-dong 1197), Seobuk-gu, Cheonan
Telephone: (041) 572-4567 

• They are pro-natural birth. They only give walking epidurals. They will leave you alone and not do any checks unless you ask. No episiotomy and no coached pushing.
• They have a nice, dimly-lit birthing suite, a mini gym in the labor ward with birthing balls and stretching equipment. 
• Dr Lee Kwang Yeol and Dr Moon, speak English very well. The nurses and receptionist don't really speak English. 
• The clinic is very well known on naver blogs for being pro-natural birth and letting the mother choose her birth experience.
• They can do C-sections there and there is a big university hospital just a 5 minute walk away.

HaeSung Women's Hospital
Located in the 2nd Market area (saeng yeong dong) of Donducheon, near Camp Casey
Telephone: (031) 868-5858
Google map coordinates: 37.903989, 127.054473


Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital: various locations in Seoul and suburbs

• They have locations in Anyang (main Hallym hospital), Seoul (their Kangnam (Gangnam), Hangang, and Kangdong (Gangdong) locations), and Dongtan. They also have one hospital located in Chuncheon.
• Many expats have had positive reviews about the one in Dongtan. A number of military families go there. They say the doctors are attentive, have a good bedside manner, and there's an international desk that will help with translations.

Hanyang University Hospital 
17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 2290-8303
Emergency: (02) 2290-8282
International Clinic: (02) 2290-9553

Hanvit Women's Hospital 한빛여성병원 
Gwangdeokdong-ro 53, Danwon-gu, Ansan City, Gyeonggi-do (Gogan 1 dong 774-1)
Google map
Telephone: (031) 410-3316


Happy Birth (행복한이명화조산원)
This place has been renamed. Please see the listing under "Lee Myung Hwa"


Hatvit 
74 Dobong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 983-7772
Click on the plus at the top right to see the hours
Facebook

• They promote natural birthing as well as VBACs so would have to book an epidural in advance. They encourage you to make a CD with music to listen to. You'll get 2 free massages (full body and breast), and a diaper bag with free samples.
• They don't speak much English. 
• There are three types of rooms: 4 pregnant women to a room is 10,000 won/day, 1 upgrade ~180,000/day, and the luxury one, which is about 200,000 won a day.

Il Shin Birthing Center (일신조산원)
52-1 Dapsipli-dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul
서울특별시 동대문구 답십리동 52-1
Telephone: (02) 2244-2841



IMom Obgyn
589-1beonji, Icheon-dong, Pyeongtaek
Telephone: (031) 663-3510 / 3511 / 3512 / 3513

• People go here because it's cheap, but you get what you pay for. They do cheap ultrasounds no appointment necessary, for about 40,000-60,000 depending on the type of ultrasound. BOM Ultrasound Clinic is a good alternative.
• The doctors speak ok English, but don't have a good bedside manner. If something is wrong, they're going to be direct and unfeeling. One mom found out she had a miscarriage when the doctor had trouble finding the baby and just announced, "miscarriage" and refused to do treatment and just shooed her away. 
• Sanitation isn't the best as one mom reported blood on the sofa in the waiting room.
• They have a postpartum birth facility (sanhujuriwon).

JEIS MB
The address on their website is wrong. They have moved from Mapo to Hapjeong. Please call them for their address.
Telephone: (02) 324-9966

• All private rooms. 
• Joriwon available for people who birth there. 
• Yoga and mom-to-be classes from 20 weeks. 
• Doctor speaks limited English. 
• Walk-in prenatal appointments are available. 
 

Kim San Soon Birthing Center 김삼순조산원
806-60 Guro 4-dong,Guro-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 구로구 구로4동 806-60 ‎
Telephone: (02) 854-0818


Lady Samsung Women and Children's Hospital (삼성산부인과) 

This place has been renamed. Please see the listing under "Zion Women's Hospital" 


La Mere Women's Hospital (라메르여성병원) 
160-14 Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 847-1001 (English speaking director: Eunice)
350,000 - 400,000 for natural delivery and 1.2-1.3 mil for C-section (7D6N).

• From Singil Exit 1, walk straight down the hill and cross to the opposite road at the first zebra crossing. Walk until you see a HomePlus Express at the corner. Turn right. A few minutes later, you will see the clinic on your right. It is a black marble building (about 6-7 storeys) with the name in pink. 
• The hospital is a women's hospital (level 2) with a paediatric clinic and pharmacist on the first level. They deliver vaginal birth and C-sections and seem to be very supportive of natural birth. However, they are also open to C-sections and do not judge. 
• There is a doctor there that speaks English (Dr. Kim Ji Yeon) and a director (Eunice) that answers most of the hospital/admin related questions. The nurses speak minimal English. Dr. Kim is a great doctor. She does not overprescribe vitamins, etc and is able to answer questions in very good English. She might not allow too much flexibility during the pre-natal checkups (pushing for less sonogram or tests) but most of the checkups are covered by the GoEunMom card anyway. 
• The staff is very friendly and accommodating and they are quite flexible with your birthing options and hospital stay. There will be staff to help you with breastfeeding during your stay. They provide massage to help with engorgement.
• Only private rooms are available. The baby can stay with you or if you want, be in the nursery. You can also opt to stay for less or more time (additional night KRW130,000). 
• They offer classes (breastfeeding, mobile making etc) but only in Korean. 
• They have a postpartum centre (book 1-2 months in advance) for KRW130,000 per night. 
• Moms get a free goodie bag! You'll get a Korean blanket (the thick blanket to take your baby home), a set of baby clothes and blanket, a tin of milk powder, bottles and nappies. undergarments, slippers and entertainment. Everything for the baby will be provided for. The hospital provides a baby book and CD. They also give you a professionally photographed album for your baby! Once you do a 4D ultrasound, if they can't check for all the limbs, you get free 4D scans for the next one or two checkups! 

Lee Myung Hwa (행복한이명화조산원) they used to be Happy Birth
Seonbu-dong 1070-12 Gwangwon Building Office 208, Danwon-Gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 안산시 단원 선부동 1070-12관원빌딩 208호
Telephone: (031) 410-3573 and 010-2803-3573

• Lee Myung Hwa is the midwife.
• They attend home births.

Mamas' Birth Center 
3rd floor, Daesakwanro 60 Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 797-3573
Danica: 010-7170-1099.

• Mamas' Birth Center is a natural birthing center. They have experience working with foreigners. They have 5 rooms. Each rooms has a tub. The rooms have great lighting, birthing balls, and birthing stools. They also work with a doula who speaks English and Korean and have birthing education classes. They have double beds (Korean style, so a bit hard).
• There is no doctor, just midwives. They are not able to perform C-sections, and all pre-natal tests and transfers are done at SCH. 
• They do home births in Seoul only. 
• Birth plus 6 hour recovery period: 1 mil. Daily room rate: 250,000. Home births are 1.2 mil and are only done in Seoul. All prices are with Korean National Insurance.  If you don't have KNI, it will be more expensive. People have said a birth plus a 6 hour recovery period is about 3 mil. After that it's 250,000 per day in the room and 10,000 for meals.

Medi Flower
Dr. Hwanwook Chung
2nd Floor of Lotte Castle Medici, 1656-4 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 548-9400 (Press 9 for English)
Near Kyodae subway station

• About 3mil for a vaginal birth though prices vary depending on insurance. Without Korean insurance, expect to pay about 7-15 mil. They offer epidurals and are able to perform C-sections. They attend home births.
• They have been around for a while and are popular among expats. However, now there are other options, such as GM Cheil (1.5 mil) Mamas' Birth Center (1.5 mil), and Yeon and Nature 3 mil). Two of these are cheaper than MF and all of them have tubs in the rooms. In MF, only one room has its own tub and the rest share. For clients with Tricare, Medi Flower might be a good choice. If you hire one of their doulas, they do something with the invoice so that Tricare covers the cost of the doula, even though Tricare states they won't cover doulas. I'm not sure about the legalities of this, however, many families have had Tricare pay for their MF doula.
• About 3mil for a vaginal birth though prices vary depending on insurance. They offer epidurals and are able to perform C-sections. 

Ms Bebe
Simindae-ro 401, Daeryung Techno Town 219-ho, 220-ho, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031_ 389-8873


NaLee Hospital (나리 병원) 
201-38 Sau-dong, Seo-gu, Gimpo, Incheon
Tel: (031) 982-5700

• Complications-free vaginal delivery is about 600,000 won which includes a 3-night stay Directions: From the Gimpo High School bus stop, walk under the nearest walking bridge and take an immediate left after passing the bridge. Walk 2 blocks straight and take a right. You will see a large maroon-colored building, about 8 stories high with 산부인과 written on it. 
• The hospital is a women's and children's hospital. They have gynecology (산부인과), pediatrics (소아과), and internal medicine (내과) doctors.
• While there used to be a doctor who spoke English named Dr. Yeong-seok Cho who was open to requests, let people turn down testing that they don't want, and allowed rooming-in, he has no left. The other doctors are not accommodating at all and they don't allow rooming-in. If you're in this area, there is a natural birthing clinic nearby called GM Cheil.

Queens Women's Clinic
9-13 Seongjeonggong-won 1-gil, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, Chuncheongnam-do
041-569-2000
010-2603-8314‬
Waze

• There's a natural birthing room with a birth tub (for labor and/or birth), birth ball, peanut ball, ropes, and a bar (the latter two are used to hold onto while pushing). 
• It is Korean style, so you'll be sleeping on the floor.
• They also have a VIP room. 
• They can do VBACs and C-sections. 
• Dr. Seo Gi Won is the doctor. 
• About half an hour from Camp Humphreys. Very affordable. 
• They are connected to Dankook Hospital, so they might be able to bill Tricare directly. 

Rosa
Please see the listing under "Agitanseun"


Samsung Medical Center 
Dr. Kim OBGYN
50 Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 3410-0200
Emergency: 3410-2060
International Clinic: (02) 3410-0200

• They have an amazing NICU policy. Most hospitals will only let you go to the NICE twice a day for 30 minutes, but Samsung has a very open policy for visiting. You can read more about NICUs here. 

Seoul National University Hospital 
28 Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 2072-2722
International Health Services Department: 02-2072-0505 or 010-8831-2890


Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Gangnam 
505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 1588-1511
International Clinic: 02-2258-5746
Russian: 011-0125-8667

• They occasionally offer birthing classes in English. They're sporadic and taught by a doctor. They last about 2 hours and cost 65,000.  
• I've been told they have the highest successful VBAC rate in Korea at 90%. 

Shes Medi: Suwon
288 Jangdari-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon
Telephone: (031) 231-7400

• English speaking, they offer natural childbirth options and are for kangaroo care.

Shi-Min Birthing Center (시민조산원)
4902-1 Singil dong, Yeongdeungpo-Gu, Shin-Gil, Seoul
서울특별시 영등포구 신길동 4902-1
Telephone: (02) 833-1612


Soonchunhyang Hospital (SCH)
Dr. Lee OBGYN. Dr. Choi for water birth
657 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
They also have locations in Bucheon, Cheonan, Gumi, and Asan.
Telephone: (02) 709-9114
Emergency: (02) 709-9119
International Clinic: (02) 709-9158 or (02) 709-9058

• They have a free birthing class that lasts for 30-90 minutes but it's only for women who birth at SCH.  
• Doctors speak Spanish and English.
• They are supportive of natural births and have a birthing tub but also do many c sections. They will follow a birth plan. many foreign couples go there so they are used to 'foreign' requests. However, the aftercare is very Korean, meaning the husband or your own hired help has to take care of you. 
• I know that some people have had issues with their medical histories being taken down incorrectly as well as have had ultrasounds interpreted incorrectly. 

Win Women Hospital
1759 beongil 32 Bongyeong-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031) 201-9800


Woo Lee Women's Clinic
936-3 Dongchun-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone (032) 032-818-5121, 5122, 5123, 5124

• Women's clinic. I've heard that they speak English there.

Yale OBGYN
Hapjeong-dong 757-3, Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do.
Telephone: (031) 656-3885 and (031) 659-7360

• There are only male doctors but the nurses, office staff, and doctors speak English. Natural, epidurals, and c-sections available as well as care for other fertility issues. 
• Private room with natural birth is 300,000 with Korean National Insurance. 
• Very nice and accommodating birthing hospital and seem to be familiar with foreigners. Great facility.

Yeon and Nature 
521 Hakdong-ro (Cheongdam-dong 72-1) Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 강남구 학동로521 (청담동72-1)
Telephone: 02-518-1300 or 010-4009-1151

• Dr. Park's place: opened in late 2014. A natural birthing center that also has epidurals and C-sections available. There are no extra fees to use the birthing pool, every birthing room has pool. Total cost will be around 3-4 mil. This includes the labor and delivery, a 2-night stay, newborn screening, and meals.
• They have English speaking midwives and doulas. 
• They do placenta encapsulation and placenta prints for about 300,000 won. 

Yonsei Severance Hospital
Dr. Kwon OBGYN
134 Shinchon-dong, Sudaemun-gu, Seoul
Tel: (02) 392-3404 or (02) 2228-1009
Emergency: (02) 361-2540
International Clinic: (02) 2228-5800 or (02) 2228-5810


Yonsei Women and Children's Hospital (연세모아병원)
947-2 Yeongtong-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Youngtong-dong Gyeongi-do
경기도 수원시 영통구 영통동 947-2
Telephone: (031) 201-4500


Zion Women's Hospital (시온여성병원)  
1011-2, Youngtong-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 수원시 영통구 영통동 1011-2
Telephone: (031) 201-0700

• If you want to go for the 자연출산 (natural childbirth) option, you'll have to sign up ahead of time and pay an additional fee of about 500,000. Not all the doctors do it; only about 30% do. 
• They also have a good VBAC rate.
• They still do a lot of episiotomies, so be aware if you want to avoid them. 
• They do have a good breastfeeding policy: at least 15 minutes of skin-to-skin in the delivery room to attempt breastfeeding, no supplementation of formula, and full rooming-in. They also have an excellent lactation consultant.
• They have a birth coach who acts as a doula. 
• You'll give birth in a room that doesn't feel like a hospital room. There's intermittent monitoring with a doppler. You can choose any position you'd like for labor and delivery. 
• They do delayed clamping of the umbilical cord and will lay the baby on your stomach right after birth.

OUTSIDE OF SEOUL AND GYEONGGI-DO

Areum Women's Hospital: Busan
Dongrae-gu, Oncheon-dong 473-1
(051) 557-0114

• They say they are all for natural birth and breastfeeding. They will do VBACs.
  

Boram Hospital (보람 병원): Gwangju
840-2 Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju
Telephone: (062) 605-1500

• They say they're pro-natural but that doesn't seem to be the case. Epidurals are only available at certain times and moms must birth on their backs. The rooms have no bathroom and the nurses are young and rough. However, they allow VBACs and vaginal twin births.
• Dr. Jung (male) speaks good English and has a good bedside manner.
• There are 2 translators on call 24/7.

Creation & Love Women’s Hospital (시엘병원): Gwangju
13-21 Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
Telephone: (062) 368-1700~2


Eden Hospital (에덴 병원): Gwangju
822-12 Duam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju
Telephone: (062) 260-3000

• Probably the most breastfeeding-friendly hospital in Gwangju.
• They routinely see expats so most documents can be found in English. They have an English version of the Prenatal Mom booklet. 
• Dr. Jin Il-seop and Dr. Kim Hyeon Jeong speak English.

Elle Medi: Geoje
970-18 Gohyun
Telephone (055) 638-0037/8

• You'll have to call to make an appointment on the weekdays, but they take walk-ins on the weekend. They have 1 delivery room. There are no NICUs on Geoje Island.
• Dr. Jung Pil Lee speaks English well. He's very caring, thorough, and considerate of the needs of Western women.

Frau-medi Hospital: Ulsan
1574-2 Samsan-dong

• I've also heard it called Prau-medi. It has a decent reputation for natural birthing. 

Good Moonhwa Hospital: Busan
899-8  Beom-il2-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, 601-803
Telephone: (051) 644-2002 and (051) 630-0123

• They've just opened a new natural birthing center in fall 2014 called Love to Come (LTC) Clinic. It's located inside a hospital so they can do C-sections. They have midwives on staff.
• There are 3 spacious birthing rooms and they each have their own bathroom with a shower. 
• You can read more about it in Busan Haps and Issuu.

Gwangju: If you're in Gwangju here is some info about giving birth at a general hospital, a list of hospitals, and obgyns.


Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital: Chuncheon
Telephone: (033) 240-5119

• Part of a large hospital system with five other Hallyms located in and around Seoul.

Hannah OBGY: Cheongju
Kilindae-ro 489, Deokjan-gu
Telephone: (063) 250-3500~2

• Park Yeon Bae is listed as a HypnoBirthing® practitioner and works there. I'm not sure if she's a doctor, midwife, nurse, or doula. 

Han Woo Ri Birthing Center: Busan 
25 ban gil 1 (Yeonsan-dong), Jungangcheon-ro, Yeonjae-gu, Busan
Telephone: (051) 867-2900 and 010-2446-3188
midwifebaby@hanmail.net

• They have three birthing rooms and they don't speak much English at all.
•  The midwife is Cho Hyun Jung.

Home birth Birthing Center: Daegu
833 beonji, Beommal 2-dong, Susang-gu, Daegu
Telephone: (053) 781-3832

• Run by midwife Oh Jae Sook who has many years of experience with home births.
• She will bring a birthing stool and has some experience with water births. 
• She speaks no English, but she will travel and charges between 800,000 and 1 mil.
• I don't think she has a website, but if you know of one, please tell me and I will add it.

Hwamyung Ilsin Christian Hospital (화명일신기독병원): Busan
Telephone: (051) 363-0331
Facebook
Geumgokdae-ro 264, Hwamyung-dong,

• New birthing suites with birthing tubs are available at this hospital.

Hyosung Hospital: Daegu
Telephone: (053) 766-7073

• Known to be very foreigner friendly, but not too friendly for natural birthing. Expect a lot of interventions, such as shaving, birthing on your back, and enemas. They offer breastfeeding support. 
• They have an international center and a translator on call 24/7.
• Many foreign mom prefer Dr. Choi Yoon-Young, who's a female doctor.
• The birthing rooms are very large and they each have a bathroom but no shower. 

Jesus Hospital: Cheonju
Seowon-ro 365, Wansan-gu, Cheonju
Telephone: (063) 230-8114


Kim Sun-Seon Birthing Center (김순선 조산원): Jeju
Ohnam-ro 224
Telephone: (064) 757-514 or (064) 723-5858

• A new birthing center in Jeju. The midwife, 김순선 (Kim Sun-seon), is also a certified doula.
• I don't think she has a website, but if you know of one, please let me know and I'll add it. 

Love to Come (LTC) Clinic (see Good Moonhwa): Busan


Medi Park: Daegu
Facebook
Telephone: (053) 740-7764

• The doctors there do lots of interventions. At 37 weeks, expect to be asked if you want to be induced or have a C-section. They have administered pitocin during labor without consent, encourage epidurals very early on in labor (before 4 cm), and may insist that your baby stay in a warmer in the nursery. If you're looking for medicated births, this might be the right place for you.

Mij Ai Hospital: Mokpo 
Baeknyeondae-ro 418
(061) 260-8000

• Great doctors and good staff.

Mirae Obgyn: Busan
Busanjin-gu, Kayadae-ro 459 (Gaegeum)
(051) 890-9999

• Dr. 이재준 is pro-natural birth.
  

Miz-I Clinic Obstretic and Gynecology: Mokpo
977-2 Ogam-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Telephone (061) 260-8000

• Some doctors will let you labor in any position but want you birthing on your back. 
• You can refuse an IV and instead just ask for a hep-lock.
• They do actively managed procedures. They'll insist on pitocin after birth in order to shrink the uterus. They take the baby away and give them formula. You may be required to wear a plastic apron and gloves to nurse. The nurses only know a little about breastfeeding.
  
• You may need to bring your own cutlery, toilet paper, and soap.

MizMom: Geoje
26 Okpodaecheop-ro, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Telephone: (055) 688-9123/4

• There's no need for an appointment on weekdays. If you go on the weekend you'll have to make an appointment. Dr. Ho Yeol Lee speaks English well. 
• There are 4 delivery rooms and 1 surgery room. There are no NICUs on Geoje. 

Mizpia Hospital (미즈피아병원): Gwangju
1258-3 Chipyeong-dong , Seo-gu, Gwangju
Telephone: (062) 380-2000

 
Peace Midwives (평화조산원): Masan 
158-2 Hapseong 2(i)-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Gyeongsangnam-do
Tel: (055) 256-9236

• They'll do home births.

Prime Women's Clinic: Gimhae (near Busan) 
Naedong 1140-4 Guensang Building 2F, Gimhae, Gyeongsang-gu
Tel: (055) 328-0059

• Natural birthing hospital near Busan. Many of the doctors speak  The head doctor of the hospital is heavily in favor of natural birth, using doulas, and HypnoBirthing®. A natural birth will cost about 300,000 and a C-section will be about 800,000.
• You can labor and birth in any position and immediate skin-to-skin contact is encouraged as is rooming in. 
• VBACs are strongly encouraged and they do gentle C-sections.
• They have their own midwives on staff, and are willing to consider and speak to you about different options so that you can have the birthing experience that you want. 
• They offer breastfeeding support. 

Pyeonghwa Yeollin Birth Center (평화열린 조산원): Gwangju
Telephone: (055) 256-9236
Email: pongrim@hanmail.net  

• Recommended by those living near Gwangju. A birthing center that focuses on natural birth and midwives. 
  

Samsungmiz OBGYN: Asan
Baebang Eup Jangjaelee 1781, Asan City, Chungnam Province 
Telephone: 1600-8383
Dr. Kim Jung-man is very pro-natural birth.


Ulsan University Hospital: Ulsan
 877 Bangeojin Sunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan
Telephone: (052) 250-7222

• Very medical approach with nothing by mouth and constant monitoring, but they are open to a more hands-off approach if the situation allows. 
• The birthing rooms are new and spacious and each has a private bathroom. 
• Prof. Lee Soo Jeong (female) speaks good English and they have an international center.
• Epidurals are usually in the morning and moms are transported to the OR on a different floor for the procedure. They can be hooked up or not. They only do epidurals between 4 and 8 cm. 
• They have a NICU.

W-Hospital: Gwangju

• New facility - clean and nice looking.
• English speaking doctors.
• They respect for the birth plan.

Women's Hope Center: Pohang 
Facebook and Korean website

• They help women in unplanned pregnancy situations (married and unmarried) and provide natural childbirth seminars (e.g. The Bradley Method) and other seminars. 

Women's Hospital: Pohang
Bukgu Eunchangdong-ro 22 beon gil 7
(054) 255-5000

• They are open to a hands-off labor and delivery as well as not using an epidural. 

Yeongji Maternity Clinic (양지산부인과): Gunsan 
(063) 467-0055
Sangnieun Angil 61

• Great place. This hospital prefers natural delivery. The female OBGYN was fantastic. They were very accommodating to expats, they did everything they could for us including filing a complaint against our previous OBGYN at the medical board in Korea. 
• The total was 906,000 for C-section and 5 nights 6 days in a private room, this also included the detailed genetic screening and hearing test (90,000 and 60,000).
• Please avoid 은해산후주리원 in Jigok-dong like the plague. There are lots of horror stories about this place.
• I haven't found a website for them. If you know of one, please let me know so that I can add it. 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.