Jeju's key maternity clinic to close after 27 years, worsening island's healthcare infrastructure

Seo Hae Obstetrics and Gynecology, a vital maternity clinic in Jeju that has served the island for 27 years, will cease operations on August 29 due to an insurmountable shortage of medical staff. The clinic, which has welcomed over 20,000 newborns since its establishment in 1999, is a critical component of Jeju's healthcare system, especially for expectant mothers.

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I have been able to hear the first cries of 30 to 50 newborns every month, and it has been a truly happy and rewarding journey, sharing laughter and tears with you all for the past 30 years. However, after much deliberation, I will be leaving the delivery room I have grown so fond of on August 29th, concluding my 30-year career as an obstetrician.

Dr. Kim Gyeong-min, the clinic's director, announced the decision, citing the immense physical and emotional toll of maintaining 24-hour on-call services with only two doctors for several years. A recent incident involving a critically ill mother experiencing postpartum hemorrhage, who underwent a six-hour surgery at the clinic after being denied transfer by a general hospital, reportedly pushed Dr. Kim to the brink.

Last year alone, Seo Hae Obstetrics and Gynecology handled 870 births, representing 28% of the total 3,160 births recorded in Jeju province. Its closure will significantly weaken the island's maternity infrastructure. While there are 28 medical institutions with obstetrics and gynecology departments in Jeju, only six currently perform deliveries, a decrease from eight last year.

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For several years, my colleague and I have had to be on duty 365 days a year (24 hours a day), and our physical exhaustion has reached its limit. Furthermore, after experiencing the terrifying incident a while ago where a mother with severe postpartum bleeding fought for her life for six hours in our operating room because no general hospital would accept her transfer, the pressure and responsibility have grown heavier each day.

The dwindling number of maternity clinics is a nationwide issue, exacerbated by declining birth rates, profitability concerns, and the high risk of medical malpractice lawsuits. However, for isolated islands like Jeju, the impact is more severe. High-risk and emergency cases often require air transport, with 26 such transfers to mainland hospitals occurring between last year and the previous month. Despite the designation of Jeju National University Hospital as a regional center for maternal and neonatal care, it still faces shortages in essential personnel and equipment.

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It will become truly difficult to give birth in Jeju.