The only local government nationwide to receive the honor … recognized for creating a pregnancy- and birth-friendly environment
District leads with hands-on policies including priority service windows and dedicated safety belts for expectant mothers
Gangbuk-gu in Seoul received a Prime Minister's commendation Thursday at the "21st Expectant Mothers' Day Ceremony," hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare at Hotel Naru Seoul, in recognition of its contributions to creating a pregnancy- and birth-friendly environment and promoting maternal health.
The government awards presented on Expectant Mothers' Day are designed to identify and honor individuals, institutions and organizations that have helped spread a culture of consideration for expectant mothers and contributed to building a socially supportive environment for pregnancy and childbirth. Gangbuk-gu was the only local government in the country to receive a Prime Minister's commendation at this year's ceremony, adding particular significance to the honor.
Since enacting an ordinance on the treatment and support of expectant mothers in 2025, the district has pursued a range of policies to foster a pregnancy- and birth-friendly environment: operating 33 priority service windows for expectant mothers through public-private partnerships, launching Seoul's first dedicated safety belt loan service for expectant mothers, and establishing a pertussis vaccination support system for expectant mothers, their spouses and postpartum care facility workers.
The priority service windows are particularly noteworthy for bringing together public and private sectors to spread a culture of consideration for expectant mothers. Participants include 21 public-facing departments at the district office and neighborhood community centers, eight affiliated facilities such as a comprehensive childcare support center and a family center, and four Shinhan Bank branches in the district.
"This Prime Minister's commendation is the result of working together with our community to create an environment where expectant mothers and children are respected and can live healthy lives," Gangbuk-gu District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said. "We will continue to build an even more comprehensive support system — one that residents can feel from pregnancy through childbirth and child-rearing — to make Gangbuk-gu a great place to have and raise children."
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