Joriwon: South Korea's Culture of Postpartum Luxury

In South Korea, postpartum care isn’t a few days in a hospital—it’s a full retreat. In this episode, we step inside the world of joriwon centers, luxury postpartum facilities where new mothers spend weeks recovering in hotel-style rooms, eating chef-prepared meals, and relying on round-the-clock nurses to care for their newborns. What began as simple rest houses have evolved into highly professional, fiercely sought-after sanctuaries staffed by nurses, pediatricians, and nutritionists—so popular that many parents reserve spots the moment they learn they’re expecting. But beneath the comfort, community, and healing lies a deeper truth: this exceptional care is expensive, highlighting the growing financial weight of raising a child in South Korea. What does a society’s postpartum system reveal about its values—and its pressures?https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/world/asia/south-korea-joriwon-postpartum-care.html