Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Victoria Kim
Victoria Kim
Republic of Korea
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
School: City High Middle School
Topic A: Maternal Mortality
Throughout the past 70 years, the mortality rate of the Republic of Korea has been steadily decreasing by around 75-80%. A recent report by Statistics Korea states that the maternal mortality ratio was 7.8 deaths per 100,000 births in 2017, but exceeded the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mean of 10.9 in 2020. Moreover, the Republic of Korea has one of the world’s highest cesarean section rates of approximately 45%, showing both defensive medical practices in a safe environment and maternal preferences for scheduled deliveries. A key aspect of this committee is to define the measures needed to be taken to improve and generalize pregnancy care for women and offer advanced medical facilities. With the UN Sustainable Development Goal being less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, South Korea and fellow states should aim toward prevention of maternal mortality.
The Republic of Korea believes that the awareness issue of maternal mortality should be raised, further calling for significant government support in pregnancy care. Korea has growing concerns about high-risk pregnancies, with having the world’s oldest average age of first birth of 32 years. Founded under the Maternal and Child Health Law, Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association (KoPHWA) has focused on implementing population and reproductive health programs in South Korea since 1961. The National Institute of Health (NIH) claims that women are allowed to give birth in a maternity clinic if preferred, although this will be the more expensive option at around 500—800,000 KRW (420—670 USD). In South Korea, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) provides universal care and covers 50-80% of all medical costs for all residents, allowing pregnant mothers to safely deliver their babies. South Korea’s expertise in healthcare puts it in a prime position to develop a constructive and feasible improvement for reducing maternal mortality.
This committee must tackle the issue of maternal mortality, further working together with the focus of maternal health and improving pregnancy healthcare systems. To this end, the Republic of Korea believes that resolutions should emphasize and encourage three main points: one, the improvement of pregnancy healthcare and its generalization so that it could be accessible to all. Secondly, the raising of awareness through government-led campaigns and public health programs. Thirdly, the prevention of unintended pregnancies and safe abortion services, in which the Constitutional Court ruled Korea’s abortion ban unconstitutional in 2019 and lead to decriminalization as of January 1, 2021.
