Life&Culture
K-parenting 101 In series
Dive into the world of Korean parenting
#Parent life and tips
# baby care
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K-parenting 101 In series
Dive into the world of Korean parenting
Would you like to subscribe?
Series preview
K-parenting 101: Don’t forget the socks
TLeaving the house with a newborn feels like prepping for battle. From bottles, diapers and pacifiers to extra clothes, everything has to be packed like you’re never coming back. And once the door open
In Korea, new mothers enter luxury boot camps
Postpartum care centers, where new mothers rest and recover after childbirth, are a uniquely Korean creation found nowhere else in the world. While some countries have similar facilities, Korea remains the only nation where such care centers, known as sanhujoriwon or just joriwon, have become an integral part of postnatal care. A 2023 survey of 3,221 new mothers by the Health Ministry found that 8 to 9 out of 10 new mothers used the service that year. In traditional Korean culture, the initial t
Nov. 1, 2025 - 16:00:00
These supermoms aren't just raising kids. They're hitting the books for notorious exams
After two years of studying, all while caring for her toddler daughter and welcoming a son, Lee is now on the brink of beginning a new chapter in her life. A 35-year-old former dental clinic employee, she passed the annual civil servant exam in the health affairs field this August. The demanding once-a-year test covers subjects from Korean history and English to health care administration and related laws. “I often felt anxious and physically exhausted when household chores piled up, from prepar
Oct. 17, 2025 - 10:23:26
Golden years on hold, or renewed? Grandparents talk 'second parenthood'
Five days a week for the past two years, Koo Jung-soo, 66, has made her way to her daughter’s home with her husband by 7:40 a.m., to be greeted by her 6-year-old grandson, ready for breakfast. Koo barely has time to sit down, and time flies as she cooks breakfast for her grandson, reads him stories and helps with kindergarten assignments. Before she knows it, it’s 9 a.m., time for him to catch the school bus. Once her grandson leaves, Koo and her husband spend the rest of the morning doing the d
Sept. 20, 2025 - 16:00:00
Meet the Baby Hiking Club
With a crisp breeze heralding the arrival of fall, nine tiny adventurers, most of them just 1 year old, set out on their very first hike of the season. Dangling from inside hiking carriers with rattles, little toys and teething rings, the babies cooed and gurgled as they gazed wide-eyed at the sky, the canopy of trees and fluttering birds — all over their parents’ shoulders. The parents echoed back and sang little songs, filling the tranquil trail on Buramsan in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, wit
Sept. 11, 2025 - 10:29:35
Diapers in Dior: Luxury fever seeps into parenthood
Picture this. You finally step out with your brand-new Dior tote and later discover baby milk leaking from a baby bottle inside. A nightmare scenario? Perhaps. But for some Korean mothers, it’s not a big deal, since they bought the bag to carry baby bottles in the first place. In South Korea, the world’s leading luxury market, oversized luxury totes have taken on an unexpected role as “diaper bags,” stuffed with diapers, milk, baby food and other baby essentials. A quick search for “diaper bag”
Sept. 7, 2025 - 09:00:00
In Korea, department stores are a magnet for babies and their moms
If you’re raising a young child in South Korea, not knowing this Korean word could make it hard to join conversations with other parents: “munsen.” Short for “munhwa center,” or “culture center,” munsen refers to dedicated spaces inside department stores and large supermarkets offering customers a wide array of classes. From yoga and personal finance to cooking and language lessons, these centers function as affordable private academies open to all ages. Originally a marketing tool to draw shopp
Aug. 27, 2025 - 15:15:16
Mom cafes: A lifeline, and sometimes a minefield, for first-time moms
Search for “parenting” on Naver, South Korea’s largest web portal, and you'll be met with more than 50,000 online communities. The overwhelming majority shares one word in their names: “mom.” Known as “mom cafes,” these hyperlocal online platforms have become vital lifelines for new and seasoned mothers alike. Serving as the kind of village it takes to raise a child, these communities offer everything from parenting advice and emotional support to emergency help — and the occasional unsolicited
Aug. 19, 2025 - 09:00:00
Parenting 101: Baby's first moment, sealed in a stamp
Cutting the umbilical cord marks a baby’s entry into the world -- a quiet yet powerful signal of life’s beginning. After the cut, about two or three centimeters of the cord remain on the baby’s belly. It’s clamped with a plastic clip to prevent bleeding and infection, gradually drying and darkening before naturally falling off within five to fifteen days. The severed cord may appear unappealing, but for many mothers, it is a tangible link to the profound experience of carrying life, something de
Aug. 12, 2025 - 15:10:58
Do unborn babies need names? In Korea, absolutely
Lee, a mother of two daughters, often calls her eldest “poop,” a nickname she gave to her from when she was in the womb. “I just thought it was cute. 'Ddong' (meaning poop in Korean) sounds funny, and for some reason, it felt perfect for this little creature tumbling around in my belly,” Lee told The Korea Herald. Lee isn’t the only one who thinks poop makes a cute "taemyeong," a womb-time nickname that literally means "fetus name." It’s actually quite popular among many Korean moms-to-be. Rappe
Aug. 5, 2025 - 16:36:29
How Koreans keep kids' heads fashionably round
In Korea, when a baby sleeps soundly, whether lying flat or with their head turned to one side, parents don’t just admire the peaceful sight. They have a task at hand: gently repositioning the baby’s head from side to side during sleep. It’s a small but deliberate effort to prevent flat head syndrome and encourage a well-rounded head shape. While flat head syndrome is a real condition caused by constant pressure on the back or side of a baby's head, South Korean parents often have additional con
July 29, 2025 - 10:00:00
100-day rule for newborns
For many Korean parents, bringing a newborn home from the hospital plays out like a covert mission. From the moment the baby leaves the hospital, every move is meticulously planned. Swaddled tightly in layers of blankets, the infant is swiftly ushered through the underground parking lot and into the car. There's no detour, only a direct drive home. Upon arriving the parking lot of their home, the parents rewrap the baby, shielding the child from sunlight and wind before making a quick dash indoo
July 22, 2025 - 10:05:12
Baby’s first haircut can go a little extreme in S. Korea
A baby’s first hair naturally falls out over time, but some parents in South Korea choose to shave it early. Why? The practice stems from a long-held belief, though less common today, that shaving encourages hair to grow back thicker and fuller. As in many cultures, lush, full hair is highly valued in Korea, often regarded as a symbol of health and youth. The shaved hair is often kept as a memento, stored in decorative keepsake boxes or framed for display. Some even have it crafted into a brush,
July 15, 2025 - 10:08:23
Day care starts at birth
Behind a glass wall, rows of tiny newborns sleep soundly in bassinets, swaddled in soft blankets and waiting for their first journey home. A nurse gently lifts one and carries it toward the viewing window. On the other side, the new mom and dad stand frozen in awe as they catch their first glimpse of their precious child. It’s a scene straight out of a Korean drama — and one that plays out in real life every day in South Korea. Here, it is common for newborns to be separated from their mothers s
July 7, 2025 - 17:07:49
K-parenting 101: Don’t forget the socks
Leaving the house with a newborn feels like prepping for battle. From bottles, diapers and pacifiers to extra clothes, everything has to be packed like you’re never coming back. And once the door opens, it’s game on. For South Korean parents, among the countless things to pack, there's one item that must never be forgotten: socks. If you dare to take your baby out without socks, be ready for stares and a flurry of nagging from Korean grandmothers on the street, at the supermarket, or wherever th
July 1, 2025 - 12:09:08
