Maternity tourism grows booming in South Korea
Mothers-to-be from China and Russia are being wooed by services they feel are not available in their own countries
First-time mother-to-be Yulia Batichenko was anxious as the big day approached.
In particular, she worried about the cleanliness and reliability of the maternity facilities available in her native Russia.
So she flew to Seoul to give birth, joining a host of expectant mothers who are being wooed by South Korea's promotion of itself as a destination for medical tourism, with women being told that their recovery will be eased by Korea's traditional culture of childbearing.
Mothers are invited to spend a few weeks recuperating at specialised postnatal care facilities.
"There are many things that are not so good in my country. In particular, the hospitals and hospitality are better in Korea. The experience was much more comfortable and convenient there," said Batichenko, 28.
Batichenko was given instruction in how to breastfeed and maintain the proper temperature for her baby. She received massages and skin treatments and was taught exercises to help her regain her pre-pregnancy figure. There was also traditional seaweed soup, which is meant to ease swelling and provide nutrients that assist recovery.
"Korean methods allow mums to recover faster than any other methods. All mothers need these kinds of services, but they aren't available in their countries, so they come here. Our clients go back to their countries and tell their friends, which is a kind of PR," says Shin Pil-hyang, chairperson of the Korean Postpartum Care Centre Association.