A 35-week pregnant patient in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, was flown about 150 kilometers to Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, after her water broke and no hospital in the province could accept her. Fire authorities contacted 34 hospitals, including 12 in Gyeonggi, but four province-designated maternal and neonatal care centers also reported that they could not take the patient.
The hospitals cited shortages of medical staff, unavailable neonatal intensive care beds, or the need for additional obstetric confirmation. Members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council said the province needs a functioning transfer and follow-up system for cases that supported centers cannot receive.