A growing number of American mothers are checking into Korean-style postpartum care centers despite nightly rates topping 1 million won ($700 → about $1,000). In the U.S., where care after childbirth is thinly covered, the Korean model has taken hold as a premium service.
Postpartum retreats modeled on Korean care centers are opening across the U.S., according to reports on the 24th by TIME, Bloomberg and other American outlets. The first was Boram, which opened in New York in May 2022. Guests pay about $1,000 a night and stay an average of six nights, and more than 700 families had used the facility as of 2024.
Ahma & Co, which opened in Orange County, California, on March 15, 2024, said it had 4,000 people on its waiting list before opening, even at $1,650 a night. Other openings include Sanu in Virginia, Post Pamper in San Diego ($1,100 a night), The Village in San Francisco ($950 a night) and Fourth Trimester in Washington, D.C.
Bookings Surge Even at More Than $1,000 a Night, With Some Employers Covering the Full Cost
The demand shows up in the numbers. Bloomberg reported that Boram's average daily bookings rose 48% in March 2024 from a year earlier and that revenue from corporate partnerships had doubled since 2022. Some companies cover the full cost for employees or offer discounts.
Behind the willingness to pay is a gap in care. The U.S. is the only high-income country that does not guarantee paid parental leave by law, according to the Commonwealth Fund. Postpartum medical care typically consists of a single visit six weeks after birth, and about 40% of women miss even that appointment, TIME reported. South Korea has about 500 postpartum care centers, used by 80% of new mothers.
The obstacle is price. TIME reported that U.S. retreats charge $700 to $1,400 a night, receive no government support and are rarely covered by insurance. Founders themselves acknowledged that the price is out of reach for most people. Boram has launched a $40-a-month online subscription service, and in California, Massachusetts and New York, insurance has begun covering in-home postpartum doula services, which provide professional care for mothers before and after childbirth.
The spread of Korean-style postpartum centers charging more than 1 million won a night reflects a private market filling a gap in care. Because the operators themselves acknowledge that cost limits access to a small group, the question going forward is whether insurance coverage and employer benefits will expand.