South Korea's presidential office is reviewing reservation priorities at state-supported postpartum centers after President Lee Jae Myung questioned how the system should treat multicultural families.
Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday it is considering revisions to the Mother and Child Health Act's enforcement decree. The proposal would give priority to mothers with greater need for postpartum services.
Lim Ho-geun, presidential secretary for population policy, said the current ranking system was introduced 10 years ago. He cited the subsequent expansion of government support for multicultural families as a reason to revisit it.
Lee's post on X Wednesday framed the issue around Seoul-style centers' second reservation tier. It asked whether that category should include mothers recognized as persons of national merit as well as mothers from multicultural families.
Lee said the review would examine whether the law needs to change and whether multicultural families should receive preferential access. He also called for input from local governments.
Kang Yu-jung, the presidential spokesperson, said Lee had not called for multicultural families to lose support. She said his post was aimed at making the reservation process fairer.
The process will include local-government consultations and consideration of legal changes.
