*Please note that this info. is specific to Korea Social Service (KSS) Adoptees.
Known Maternity / Birth / Medical Clinics + Hospitals.
We will add to this list as we know more information. If you have any information about KSS birth + Midwives Clinics, please contact us!
Any known Birth + Maternity Clinic information we will add here.
Most of these places are closed. In some cases, the original buildings remain, but in other cases, new construction may have replaced them.
The only reliable way to find out the former location of a closed birth / maternity clinic is to visit the area in which it was previously located in Korea, and to ask city hall officials or realtor’s offices for help with locating the site of these closed clinics. You will need a translator to go with you to a local city hall or realtor’s office.
Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic at KSS in Seoul.
We believe that KSS had its own on-site “Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic” on its original campus in Seoul. We believe it was most likely located on the 2nd floor of KSS’ main administrative building (with the blue tiled roof), and may have just been a one or two room clinic contained within the 2nd floor Nursery.
While KSS’ original campus no longer remains, there is one remaining building which KSS uses for its Post Adoption Services building - click here for KSS address and contact information.
Update on the Translation of “Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic” and its Affiliation With The Netherlands:
We now know that KSS’ on site medical clinic, known in English as “Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic” had a strong affiliation with the Netherlands. “Han Hwa” in fact refers to the Netherlands, which we previously did not know.
Previously we thought (erroneously) that the following translation was accurate:
Korean: 한국사회봉사회 부속한화의원
“Hanwha Medical Center affiliated with the Korean Community Service Association.”
Hanja: 韓國社會奉仕會 附屬韓和醫院
韓國社會奉仕會 = KSS
附屬 = In affiliation with
韓和醫院 = Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic
However recently we have learned that the translation of:
한국사회봉사회 부속한화의원
is NOT “Medical Center affiliated with the Korean Community Service Association” per the following explanation:
“Medical Center affiliated with the Korean Community Service Association” is a wrong translation. The correct translation should be:
“Netherlands Korea Children's Foundation Medical Clinic at KSS”
To explain why: The problem with names in classical Chinese (hanja) is that hanja often refers to names / words that are shortened. So if you do not know about the context, you could easily translate things incorrectly. So in the case of “Hanhwa”, if you didn’t know what it was, then you would not know that it should be translated to “Netherlands Korea Children's Foundation”.
Breakdown:
韓和 = 한화 = Korea Netherlands
한= Korea
화=Netherlands
The fact that “Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic” really refers to “Netherlands Korea Children's Foundation Medical Clinic at KSS” is confirmed by the website of Choon Hyun Babies Home, a known feeder orphanage for KSS (and other Korean Adoption Agencies):
CHBH Website:
http://cbh.or.kr/wp_2ds/01_01_02.html
“1976.03.22:
한화아동재단(Netherlands Korea Children's Foundation)의 후원으로 비영리아동의원 개설.
Source of new translation info: Bastiaan Flikweert
This basically means that the Netherlands likely sponsored the creation of KSS' on site medical facility, the "Han Hwa Children's Medical Clinic", which according to KSS' own KOREAN version of its website appears to have opened in 1975.
http://www.kssinc.org/kor/donation/history.php#
"1975: Opened Hanwha Clinic affiliated with the Korea Social Service Association"
~
See building 2, where Han Hwa Children's Medical Center was located (at least in the 1970s), in the diorama of KSS' old campus here:
https://www.paperslip.org/the-kss-receiving-home-in-seoul-the-old-kss-campus
Above: Images of Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic, from a KSS photo album. Courtesy of David E.
Above: Images of Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic, from a KSS photo album. Courtesy of David E.
Above: Images of Han Hwa Children’s Medical Clinic, from a KSS photo album (edited). Courtesy of David E.
Jung Ja Lee Maternity Home.
This may also be referred to as Lee Jung Ja Maternity Home.
Please note that we have NOT been able to verify the former address / location of this major clinic.
The process below illustrates how difficult it can be to find closed Birth, Maternity + Midwives Clinics. In this case, we were able to track down the Adoptee’s Maternity Clinic online, though we do not have absolute confirmation of the information. We recommend reading the information below, even if Jung Ja Lee Maternity Home was not your Birth, Maternity, or Midwives Clinic, so you can do your own research in a similar way online. However, oftentimes it takes going back to Korea and working with local city hall officials to try to find these places, the majority of which are closed.
According to this unknown Adoptee's blog, the Jung Ja Lee Maternity Home is closed:
"Ji-in's birth parents were married and had three daughters when Ji-in was born. They lived in the mountainous Gwanak-gu area, near Lee Jung Ja Maternity Home, where Ji-in was born. The maternity home was closed and demolished some years ago, making way for a high-rise apartment complex and parking ramp."
Also, we believe that the address below is likely the closed, former location of the Korea Christian Crusade Office (in 1970 - ?). Korea Christian Crusade later became ESWS. Can anyone verify if the Korea Christian Crusade, David Livingstone Adoption Programme, or ESWS was formerly located here?
#60-17, 1-ga, Taepyung-ro, Choong-ku Seoul
서울특별시 중구 태평로1가 60-17
Google Maps Link
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Please note that the Jung Ja Lee Maternity Home is now closed.
UPDATE: April 19th, 2024:
We strongly believe this apartment building stands in the location where the Lee Jung Ja Maternity Clinic used to be:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4871885,126.9574072,3a,75y,310.53h,121.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVdc6zldrhlzdM_rm3cjV-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVdc6zldrhlzdM_rm3cjV-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D310.53075819261466%26pitch%3D-31.531257438533032%26thumbfov%3D90!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205410&entry=ttu
The former site of the Lee Jung Ja Maternity Clinic is believed to be the 101 apartment building shown here:
101 봉천이수브라운스톤아파트
https://www.google.com/maps/place/%EB%B4%89%EC%B2%9C%EC%9D%B4%EC%88%98%EB%B8%8C%EB%9D%BC%EC%9A%B4%EC%8A%A4%ED%86%A4%EC%95%84%ED%8C%8C%ED%8A%B8/@37.4873351,126.957174,21z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x357ca02bb135b33f:0x6efaac0beec7a05!8m2!3d37.4877107!4d126.9572238!16s%2Fg%2F1thhhfmy?entry=ttu
Note: Google Maps may point you to the 102 building, but the correct building is the 101 building.
There is a possibility there is another address:
Here is my process of searching for the Bongchun address:
I found this listing on the KAS site:
"I was born in (Lee Jeongja Midwifery) in 7-77 Bongcheon 3-dong, Gwangak-gu, Seoul"
Here is the Korean text:
서울 광악구 봉천3동 7-77에 있는 <이정자 조산소>에서 출생했습니다.
친모의 나이는 1977년 당시 22세였으며 미혼모였으며 친권 포기일은 1978년 1월6일입니다.
Based on this KAS entry, I was sent the info below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongcheon-dong?fbclid=IwAR2MpIrLRATVxTAXE239rZmQpFIqPoTqYF3nEQrb1RZRuUC6M2Hz-TGQwnY
*The crossed out information below is old / incorrect:
봉천3동 bongcheon-3-dong become Cheongnim-dong
봉천4동 bongcheon-4-dong become Cheongnyong-dong
Based on this info, here is the address (which shows a street, not a specific building):
7-77 봉천3동 bongcheon-3-dong
Google Maps Link
We think these are the two most likely addresses:
서울특별시 관악구 봉천3동 7-77
서울특별시 관악구 봉천4동 1568-1
Google Maps Link
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Thanks to KoRoot for the following information:
Lee Jung Ja Midwife records, from the book “Midwife to Midwife: Changes in Korean Birth Culture”: External Link (Published 2017)
산파 = sanpa: means old lady helping with child birth
There was no licensing or education a century ago, but sanpa (산파) exists in every village.
http://archive.history.go.kr/catalog/view.do?arrangement_cd=ARRANGEMENT-0-C&arrangement_subcode=ARRANGEMENT_CONTENTS-0-OH&provenanace_ids=&displaySort=&displaySize=50¤tNumber=1&system_id=000000015067&catalog_level=&catalog_position=-1&search_position=40&lowYn=&fbclid=IwAR2l6-yKqR_GuBCGW9pGLu8da3xeiAlToFYbHdhSTTjY-wCU6okr08Ko0_k
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Update: we have done a NEW translation of the text above via ChatGPT:
"Lee Jeong-ja
I was born in 1927 in Gaepung-gun, Gyeonggi Province, into a wealthy landowner family. My uncle ran a traditional medicine clinic in Gae-seong, and after graduating from high school, I worked as a nanny at a church kindergarten. In 1945, my whole family fled to South Korea due to the Korean War. After the war, in 1948, I attended the Christian Theological College near Gimpo Airport, where I met and married a police officer. Just three months after our marriage, the Korean War broke out, and I also served as a police officer for about a year during the war. However, I contracted tuberculosis during the war, and I faced a critical situation where blood would flow from my mouth. I was able to recover by taking streptomycin and parahydrazide medications provided by the Turkish military hospital.
Dr. Hong Jae-gil, the main figure in the Gwangju Student Independence Movement during the Japanese colonial era, recommended that I work at a maternity hospital rather than as a police officer while operating the Capital Maternity Hospital in Jongno at that time. At that time, I had considered becoming a nurse and immigrating to the United States, but when I actually went to the Capital Maternity Hospital, they primarily taught obstetrics rather than nursing. Due to a lack of money, I bought textbooks with a friend, dividing them equally with eight books each, and we studied by taking turns reading them.
After two years of studying, I took the Maternity Hospital Certification Exam. There were 60 students in one class, but only three of us passed the exam. Those who became maternity hospital workers at that time were all exceptionally bright and diligent women.
In 1960, I passed the Gyeonggi Province Maternity Hospital Certification Exam and embarked on the path of a maternity hospital worker. Under the military regime of Park Chung-hee, I had to take the national examination again, so after passing the exam, I completed a one-year internship at the Red Cross Hospital."
In 1960, I passed the certification exam for maternity hospitals in Gyeonggi Province, which led me to pursue a career as a midwife. Under the military regime of Park Chung-hee, I was required to take the national exam again, so after passing this exam, I completed a one-year internship at the Red Cross Hospital. I recall that the certification exam was difficult because it was in the form of essays, but the national exam, which was multiple-choice, was not too challenging. At that time, it was mandatory to receive training at one of the seven major hospitals recognized by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. I underwent a one-year internship under Dr. Bae Byeong-ju, an obstetrician in the Red Cross Hospital. The reason I chose Dr. Bae Byeong-ju was that his mother worked in a maternity hospital, and she was recommended by the Korean Association of Obstetricians.
In 1962, I opened a maternity hospital in Yongsan, Seoul, together with "Na Sang-bok." The following year, in 1963, I became independent and opened the "Lee Jeong-ja Maternity Hospital" in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, operating it for about 30 years. When my close friend Na Sang-bok left for the United States, I also prepared to immigrate to the United States and bought a house in Bongcheon-dong, but I only put up a sign that said "Maternity Hospital." However, many pregnant women started coming from Sangdo-dong, Sadang-dong, and Sinrim-dong, allowing me to earn a lot of money. My friend who had left for the United States first advised me not to come to the United States because my friend had to stand for eight hours a day at an American hospital and receive a salary of only $600, causing her legs to swell and making it impossible to chat with anyone during working hours. Therefore, I decided not to go to the United States.
I opened the maternity hospital at the age of 40 and operated it until the age of 69. I enjoyed the benefits of the baby boom era to the extent that I once delivered nine daughters in a single day. There were times when I had over 80 deliveries in a month. However, there were also many mothers who abandoned their babies and ran away, so he had no choice but to send the babies for adoption through adoption agencies. I mainly sent babies born to virgins to foreign countries so that they wouldn't become obstacles in the lives of the birth mothers, and I mainly sent boys for domestic adoption, encouraging them to join the military. I maintained a close relationship with the local doctors who had opened their practices in Bongcheon-dong. However, I received the disapproval of obstetricians from other neighborhoods because I enabled mothers they had advised to have cesarean sections to have normal deliveries. My obstetric skills were so outstanding that I could handle cases where the baby came out from the legs or hands and feet first. It is regrettable that my skills were not recognized.
In 1963, I became independent and opened the 'Lee Jeong-ja Maternity Hospital' in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, operating it for about 30 years."
Original Korean Text:
”이정자
1927년에 경기도 개풍군에서 부유한 지주 집안에서 태어났다.
외삼촌이 개성에서 한의원을 운영하였는데, 고등학교 졸업한 뒤 다니던 교회의 유치원에서 보모로 일하다가 1945년 온 가족이 월남하였다.
그는 월남 후 1948년부터 현재 김포공항 부근에 있던 크리스트교 신학대학에 다니다가 경찰관과 결혼하였다.
결혼한 지 3개월 만에 한국전쟁이 발발하였는데, 전시상황에서 약 1년간 그 역시 경찰관으로 활동하기도 하였다.
그러나 전쟁의 와중에 결핵이 발병하여 피가 목구멍으로 차오르는 위급 상황을 맞기도 하였는데, 터키 군대의 병원에서 군의가 준 스트렙토마이신(streptomycine), 파스하이드라지드 약 등을 복용하고 완치될 수 있었다고 한다.
일제 강점기 광주학생사건의 주동자였던 홍재길 박사가 당시 종로에서 수도조산대학을 운영하면서 그에게 경찰보다는 조산원을 해보라는 권유를 하였다.
당시 그는 간호사가 되어 미국으로 이민갈 생각을 했었는데, 막상 수도 조산대학에 가보니 간호학이 아니라 주로 조산학을 가르쳤다.
그는 돈이 없어서 친구와 교재를 각각 8권씩 반씩 나누어 사서, 교대로 책을 읽으면서 공부를 했다고 한다.
이렇게 2년간 다닌 뒤 조산원 검정고시에 응시하였다.
한 반에 60명이었는데 3명만 합격하였다고 한다.
그만큼 당시 조산원이 되었던 이들은 모두 공부를 잘하던 남달리 총명한 여성이었다.
그는 1960년 경기도 조산원 검정시험에 합격하면서 조산사의 길을 걷게 되었다.
박정희 군사정권 하에서 다시 국가고시를 보도록 하였기에, 그는 이 시험에 합격한 뒤 적십자 병원에서 1년간 실습하였다.
그는 검정시험은 논술형식이라 어려웠으나 국가고시는 사지선다형으로 그리 어렵지 않았다고 회상하였다.
당시 보건사회부 장관이 인정하는 7대병원에서 실습을 받는 것이 의무 사항이었다.
그는 적십자 병원 산부인과의 배병주 박사 밑에서 1년간 실습하였다.
그가 배병주 박사를 선택한 원인은 그 어머니가 조산원이라서 조산협회에서 추천하였기 때문이었다.
1962년 서울 용산에서 ‘나상복’ 조산사와 공동으로 조산원을 개원하였다.
다음 해인 1963년에 독립하여 서울 봉천동에 ‘이정자 조산원’을 개원하여 약 30여년간 조산원을 운영하였다.
친했던 친구 나상복이 미국으로 먼저 떠나자, 그 역시 미국으로 이민 갈 것을 대비해 봉천동에 집을 하나 구입한 뒤 조산원이라고 간판만 달았을 뿐이었다.
그런데 상도동, 사당동, 신림동 등지에서 산모들이 많이 몰려오면서 돈을 많이 벌게 되었다.
미국으로 먼저 떠났던 친구가 당시 미국 병원에서 월급 600달라에 8시간 동안 서있어야만 해서 늘 다리가 퉁퉁 붓고, 근무시간에 누구하고 잡담도 할 수 없는 열악한 근무 환경이라며, 미국에 절대 오지 말라고 만류하였기에 미국으로 떠나지 않았다고 한다.
그는 40세부터 조산원을 개원하여 69세까지 운영하였다.
그는 하루에 딸만 9명 받은 적이 있을 정도로 베이비 붐 시대의 혜택을 누렸다.
분만이 한 달에 80건 이상인 때도 있었다고 한다.
그러나 아기를 버리고 도망가는 산모들도 많아서 어쩔 수 없이 아기를 홀트회 등에 입양 보내는 일을 맡기도 하였다.
그는 처녀가 낳은 아기들은 아이 엄마의 인생에 걸림돌이 되지 않도록 주로 외국으로 입양을 보냈으며, 아들은 국군이 되라고 국내 입양을 주로 보냈다고 회상하였다.
그는 봉천동에 개업하였던 동네 의사들과 아주 친밀한 관계를 유지하였다.
그러나 다른 동네 산부인과 의사들이 제왕절개하라고 권유하였던 산모를 정상분만할 수 있게 해서 산부인과 의사들의 미움을 받았다고 한다.
그는 다리부터 혹은 손이나 발부터 나오는 경우도 모두 정상분만 할 수 있을 정도로 조산 기술이 뛰어났다.
그의 기술이 사장되는 것이 매우 안타까울 뿐이다.
“그는 40세부터 조산원을 개원하여 69세까지 운영하였다.
그는 하루에 딸만 9명 받은 적이 있을 정도로 베이비 붐 시대의 혜택을 누렸다.
분만이 한 달에 80건 이상인 때도 있었다고 한다.
다음 해인 1963년에 독립하여 서울 봉천동에 ‘이정자 조산원’을 개원하여 약 30여년간 조산원을 운영하였다.
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Previous (non-ChatGPT) Text provided and translated by KoRoot:
”이정자
1927년에 경기도 개풍군에서 부유한 지주 집안에서 태어났다.
In 1927, she was born to a wealthy landlord family in Gaepoong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.
외삼촌이 개성에서 한의원을 운영하였는데, 고등학교 졸업한 뒤 다니던 교회의 유치원에서 보모로 일하다가 1945년 온 가족이 월남하였다.
Her uncle ran an oriental medicine clinic in Kaesong, and after she graduating from high school, she worked as a nanny in the kindergarten of the church she attended, and in 1945, the her whole family came to the South Korea.
그는 월남 후 1948년부터 현재 김포공항 부근에 있던 크리스트교 신학대학에 다니다가 경찰관과 결혼하였다.
After she came to South Korea, she married a police officer while attending Christian Theological Seminary, which was now near Gimpo Airport in 1948.
결혼한 지 3개월 만에 한국전쟁이 발발하였는데, 전시상황에서 약 1년간 그 역시 경찰관으로 활동하기도 하였다.
The Korean War broke out three months after her marriage, and she also served as a police officer for about a year in wartime.
그러나 전쟁의 와중에 결핵이 발병하여 피가 목구멍으로 차오르는 위급 상황을 맞기도 하였는데, 터키 군대의 병원에서 군의가 준 스트렙토마이신(streptomycine), 파스하이드라지드 약 등을 복용하고 완치될 수 있었다고 한다.
However, during the war, tuberculosis broke out and blood filled her throat, and she was said to have been cured after taking streptomycin and pashydrazide drugs given by a military doctor at a Turkish military hospital.
일제 강점기 광주학생사건의 주동자였던 홍재길 박사가 당시 종로에서 수도조산대학을 운영하면서 그에게 경찰보다는 조산원을 해보라는 권유를 하였다.
Dr. Hong Jae-gil, who was the main driver of the Gwangju student case during the Japanese colonial period, ran the Capital Midwifery University in Jongno at the time and recommended her to try a midwifery rather than a police officer.
당시 그는 간호사가 되어 미국으로 이민갈 생각을 했었는데, 막상 수도 조산대학에 가보니 간호학이 아니라 주로 조산학을 가르쳤다.
At that time, she was thinking of becoming a nurse and immigrating to the United States, but when she went to the capital Midwifery University, she mainly taught midwifery, not nursing.
그는 돈이 없어서 친구와 교재를 각각 8권씩 반씩 나누어 사서, 교대로 책을 읽으면서 공부를 했다고 한다.
She said that she had no money, so she bought eight and a half books each with her friends and studied by taking turns reading books.
이렇게 2년간 다닌 뒤 조산원 검정고시에 응시하였다.
After attending for two years like this, she took the Midwifery Examination.
한 반에 60명이었는데 3명만 합격하였다고 한다.
There were 60 students in one class, but only 3 passed.
그만큼 당시 조산원이 되었던 이들은 모두 공부를 잘하던 남달리 총명한 여성이었다.
As such, all of the people who were midwives at the time were exceptionally intelligent women who were good at studying.
그는 1960년 경기도 조산원 검정시험에 합격하면서 조산사의 길을 걷게 되었다.
When she passed the certification examination for midwifery in Gyeonggi-do in 1960, she became a midwifery.
박정희 군사정권 하에서 다시 국가고시를 보도록 하였기에, 그는 이 시험에 합격한 뒤 적십자 병원에서 1년간 실습하였다.
Since she was required to take the national midwifery exam again under the Park Chung-hee military regime, she passed the exam and practiced at the Red Cross Hospital for a year.
그는 검정시험은 논술형식이라 어려웠으나 국가고시는 사지선다형으로 그리 어렵지 않았다고 회상하였다.
She recalled that the first qualification test was difficult because it was in the form of essay writing, but the second national examination was not so difficult because it was a multiple choice questions.
당시 보건사회부 장관이 인정하는 7대병원에서 실습을 받는 것이 의무 사항이었다.
At that time, it was mandatory to receive practice at the 7 big hospitals recognized by the Minister of Health and Social Affairs.
그는 적십자 병원 산부인과의 배병주 박사 밑에서 1년간 실습하였다.
She trained for a year under Dr. Bae Byung-joo of the obstetrics and gynecology department of the Red Cross Hospital.
그가 배병주 박사를 선택한 원인은 그 어머니가 조산원이라서 조산협회에서 추천하였기 때문이었다.
The reason why she chose Dr. Bae Byung-joo was that his mother was a midwife and recommended by the Midwifery Association.
1962년 서울 용산에서 ‘나상복’ 조산사와 공동으로 조산원을 개원하였다.
In 1962, she opened a midwifery center in Yongsan, Seoul in collaboration with a midwifery named Na Sang-bok.
다음 해인 1963년에 독립하여 서울 봉천동에 ‘이정자 조산원’을 개원하여 약 30여년간 조산원을 운영하였다.
The following year, in 1963, she became independent and opened the "Lee Jeong-ja Midwifery Center" in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, and operated a midwifery center for about 30 years.
친했던 친구 나상복이 미국으로 먼저 떠나자, 그 역시 미국으로 이민 갈 것을 대비해 봉천동에 집을 하나 구입한 뒤 조산원이라고 간판만 달았을 뿐이었다.
When her close friend Na Sang-bok left for the U.S. first, she also bought a house in Bongcheon-dong in preparation for emigrating to the U.S. and only hung a sign saying it was a midwife center.
그런데 상도동, 사당동, 신림동 등지에서 산모들이 많이 몰려오면서 돈을 많이 벌게 되었다.
However, as many mothers flocked from Sangdo-dong, Sadang-dong, and Sillim-dong, she made a lot of money.
미국으로 먼저 떠났던 친구가 당시 미국 병원에서 월급 600달라에 8시간 동안 서있어야만 해서 늘 다리가 퉁퉁 붓고, 근무시간에 누구하고 잡담도 할 수 없는 열악한 근무 환경이라며, 미국에 절대 오지 말라고 만류하였기에 미국으로 떠나지 않았다고 한다.
A friend who left for the U.S. first had to stand for eight hours at a U.S. hospital for $600 a month, so the friend's legs were always swollen, she couldn't chat with anyone during work hours, and Lee Jung ja didn't leave for the U.S. because her friend dissuaded her from coming to the U.S.
그는 40세부터 조산원을 개원하여 69세까지 운영하였다.
She opened a midwifery from the age of 40 and operated it until the age of 69.
그는 하루에 딸만 9명 받은 적이 있을 정도로 베이비 붐 시대의 혜택을 누렸다.
She enjoyed the benefits of the baby boom era, with receiving nine daughters a day alone.
(For context: "Korea's Baby Boom 1955~1974")
분만이 한 달에 80건 이상인 때도 있었다고 한다.
It is said that there were times when there were more than 80 deliveries a month.
그러나 아기를 버리고 도망가는 산모들도 많아서 어쩔 수 없이 아기를 홀트회 등에 입양 보내는 일을 맡기도 하였다.
However, there were many mothers who abandoned their babies and ran away, so they were forced to send their babies to Holt children's service for adoption.
그는 처녀가 낳은 아기들은 아이 엄마의 인생에 걸림돌이 되지 않도록 주로 외국으로 입양을 보냈으며, 아들은 국군이 되라고 국내 입양을 주로 보냈다고 회상하였다.
She recalled that the babies born by the maiden were mainly adopted abroad so that they would not be an obstacle to the mother's life, and the son was mainly sent to domestic adoption to become a national army.
그는 봉천동에 개업하였던 동네 의사들과 아주 친밀한 관계를 유지하였다.
She maintained a very close relationship with the local doctors who opened in Bongcheon-dong.
그러나 다른 동네 산부인과 의사들이 제왕절개하라고 권유하였던 산모를 정상분만할 수 있게 해서 산부인과 의사들의 미움을 받았다고 한다.
However, it is said that it was hated by obstetricians because it allowed normal delivery of mothers who were recommended by obstetricians in other neighborhoods to have a cesarean section.
그는 다리부터 혹은 손이나 발부터 나오는 경우도 모두 정상분만 할 수 있을 정도로 조산 기술이 뛰어났다.
She was so good at midwifery that he could give birth normally in all cases from his legs or hands or feet.
그의 기술이 사장되는 것이 매우 안타까울 뿐이다.
It's just a pity that her skills are being ruined.”
+
Lee Jung Ja said, “ I sent so many children to Holt and KSS for adoption.”
In a busy day she (helped midwife) 9 girls (not counting boys). She worked more than 20 years.
Conjecture only: So…estimating 15 births per day x 365 days per year x 20 years = approximately 109,500 possible children
“그는 40세부터 조산원을 개원하여 69세까지 운영하였다.
She opened a midwifery from the age of 40 and operated it until the age of 69.
그는 하루에 딸만 9명 받은 적이 있을 정도로 베이비 붐 시대의 혜택을 누렸다.
She enjoyed the benefits of the baby boom era, with receiving nine daughters a day alone.
(For context: "Korea's Baby Boom 1955~1974")
분만이 한 달에 80건 이상인 때도 있었다고 한다.
It is said that there were times when there were more than 80 deliveries a month.
In 1962, she opened a midwifery center in Yongsan, Seoul in collaboration with a midwifery named Na Sang-bok.
다음 해인 1963년에 독립하여 서울 봉천동에 ‘이정자 조산원’을 개원하여 약 30여년간 조산원을 운영하였다.
The following year, in 1963, she became independent and opened the "Lee Jeong-ja Midwifery Center" in Bongcheon-dong, Seoul, and operated a midwifery center for about 30 years.”
Update - March 1st, 2024:
Shin Hong Obstetrics and Gynecology + Ae Ran Won (Single Mother’s Home):
Thank you to KSS Adoptee Mike Benjamin for sharing the following information:
“My birth mother said she stayed at Ae Ran Won, a single mother's home in Seoul, and then gave birth at Shin Hong Obstetrics and Gynecology. The address from Google is 40-141 Hangangno-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea but she thinks they may have moved locations. She doesn't remember exactly.
Ae Ran Won (single mother’s home) - address is confirmed:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gbmtNh6Lg1bfNzHz6
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5680639,126.945655,3a,90y,64.85h,99.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srxUUMdJ48KM4aBVSoUbjdg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DrxUUMdJ48KM4aBVSoUbjdg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D150.35439%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
Ae Ran Won is quite famous and there is a lot about this place online:
https://iam.goal.or.kr/aeranwon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_mothers_in_South_Korea_(international_adoption)
Shin Hong Obstetrics and Gynecology - address is confirmed:
Update - February 26th, 2024:
Dong Min Medical Clinic
154-42 Cheongpa-dong 1(il)-ga
Thank you so much to KSS Adoptee John S. Hansen for providing us with the information and location of this 1980s Korean Maternity Clinic, which he was able to visit and verify on December 4th, 2023.
According to John: “It still has the name (Dong Min Medical Clinic), but doesn’t function as a birth clinic anymore.”
Google Maps Link
Above: Photo courtesy of KSS Adoptee John S. Hansen, of the Dong Min Medical Clinic - which is still in operation but no longer a Maternity Clinic. Taken on December 4th, 2023. See above link for the exact address.
KIM Dong Gil Clinic - At 376-1 Mulgeum-myeon, Mulgeum-myeon, Yangsan-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do .
KIM Dong Gil Clinic at 376-1 Mulgeum-myeon, Mulgeum-myeon, Yangsan-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
Mulgeum-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
경상남도 양산시 물금면 물금리
Possible address (general area, not exact address):
Naver Maps:
Update - March 1st, 2024:
Simin Maternity Clinic.
Please note that this address info. is NOT CONFIRMED:
Simin Maternity Clinic, Joongkok-dong, Sungdong-gu, Seoul. It no longer exists, but the location should be here:
[KakaoMap] 서울 광진구 중곡동 124-22
용마산로 53
“A Korean friend helped me track it down via an online forum for mothers in the area.”
Update - April 3rd, 2024:
NA Obstetric Clinic, Seoul.
Please note that this address info. is CONFIRMED.
NA Obstetric Clinic (Now called “Nanam OBGYN”)
*Please note this is the ENGLISH address from adoption paperwork, but the current address is DIFFERENT:
English address (old):
*5, Chunyun-dong, Seodaemoon-ku, Seoul
CURRENT KOREAN ADDRESS (as of April 3rd, 2024):
Naver Map:
https://map.naver.com/p/entry/place/356944348?c=19.99,0,0,0,dh
Google Map:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/173-8+Tongil-ro,+Seodaemun-gu,+Seoul,+South+Korea/@37.5694268,126.9621155,19.43z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x357ca285afe79783:0xf6d3619e7756f8a0!8m2!3d37.5691457!4d126.9627517!16s%2Fg%2F11bz1wpp12?entry=ttu
Notes:
There is still a OBGYN in this location. But the name was changed from "Na" OGBYN to "NaNam" OBGYN. "Na" probably used to be just OBGYN, but now, "NaNam" also provide pediatric and family medicine services in addition to OBGYN. (http://www.nadoctor.co.kr)
They likely will not be able to release any medical documents to Adoptees.
At least Adoptees can visit there to see the place and ask about the history of the clinic.
Above: The red dot is the maternity clinic, and the green dot is the nearest Jumin Center.
Maternity Homes Affiliated With KSS.
Year / Location / Name:
1979: Daeheung-dong, Mapo-gu LeeSoonni Maternity Home / Lee Soon-Yi Midwifery Clinic / Lee Soon Yi Midwifery Clinic (이순니 조산소)
*Update May 30th, 2024: We believe that the location of this former maternity clinic is the The Lotte City Hotel in Mapo / 롯데시티호텔 마포:
Address: 109 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
https://www.google.com/maps/place/LOTTE+City+Hotel+Mapo/@37.5451619,126.9500329,19z/data=!4m9!3m8!1s0x357c98a1289e5861:0x6328a4808fb505e3!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d37.5448909!4d126.9506066!16s%2Fg%2F1tfbqtkc?entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5444069,126.950296,3a,75y,2.11h,135.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smc4exDFE-3brxFGeFpSW7Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205409&entry=ttu
1979: Shingongdeok-dong 139-13, Mapo-Gu LeeJungsook Maternity Home (이정숙 조산소)
1980: Seongbuk-gu Hanboknam Maternity Home (한복남 조산소)
1981: Dongdaemun-gu Choikeumlan Maternity Home (최금란 조산소)
Source: KoRoot
Korean Book: “Midwife to Midwife: A Change in Korean Birth Culture”
Korean Only:
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I029106126-00?ar=4e1f&locale=en&fbclid=IwAR1VQmM64NkqCSNJnBgBBmE0yqjKgL3JDABb9NX7t6E1HgiHNrG30xYSqQQ
For PDF (Korean Only) - Download:
”From Midwives to Midwives: Changes in Korean Childbirth Culture - Download PDF
Planning/Publishing: Han Geung-hee, Yoon Deok-young | Oral: Ja-Hyung Koo, Eun-Ki Baek, Jeong-Ja Lee, You-Young Kim, Soon-Ae Lee, In-Hee Lee, Bok-Nam Lee, Ock-Soo Kang, Young-Soon Heo, Ok-Hee Ha, Ok-Ki Lee, Ran-Hee Seo | Interview: Park Yoon-jae, Lee Hyun-sook, Shine-hwan | Release: Lee Hyun-sook | 2017-12-22 | 444 p. : portrait ; 26 cm”
https://db.history.go.kr/publication/view.do?page=8&limit=100&sort=LEVEL_ID&dir=ASC&levelId=pbct_005_0130&fbclid=IwAR1shW1-YYJ82m67ELSjv9u2gB--dhch1N3CjCAahgWuIJJxrWooLzDZN8U
Oral Histories of Midwives, Collected in 2008 (Korean Only):
http://archive.history.go.kr/catalog/view.do?arrangement_cd=ARRANGEMENT-0-C&arrangement_subcode=ARRANGEMENT_CONTENTS-0-OH&provenanace_ids=&displaySort=&displaySize=50¤tNumber=1&system_id=000000015067&catalog_level=&catalog_position=-1&search_position=40&lowYn=&fbclid=IwAR2IFsfoHBUcE2fATw-UEsPN4pW1RbuKgAf8wCIP6k1G6O7AuqqPwYIwWSc
”The midwife, a newly created occupation with the onset of Japanese colonial rule in Joseon (Korea), had been in charge of childbirth until the 1970s. However, with the growth of obstetrics and gynecology, the role of midwives has been reduced, and in recent years, there have been few new midwives. The midwives who were active on active duty are now in their 70s and 80s. Due to the characteristics of Korean society, if no graduates are produced, historical research on the occupation is inevitably omitted. Therefore, this work was started to record the lives and activities of elderly midwives while they were alive and to use them as basic data for future Korean midwives research and furthermore, the history of Korean modern medicine.”