□ KoPHWA conducted and announced the results of the "2024 Survey on Awareness and Practice of Consideration for Pregnant Women," which surveyed total of 2,000 including pregnant women and the general public.

Survey Overview

- Target: 1,000 pregnant women, 1,000 general public (Total of 2,000)

- Period: October 17 - 27, 2024

- Topic: Experience of support for pregnant women, level of practice of consideration for pregnant women, etc.

- Method: Online survey

○ During pregnancy, women may experience physical and mental difficulties due to hormonal changes, such as morning sickness, excessive fatigue, and depression. In particular, it is difficult to identify early-stage pregnant women by appearance, so consideration from others is needed.

○ Accordingly, KoPHWA, together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare(MOHW), holds commemorative event of pregnant women’s day, a survey on awareness of consideration for pregnant women, and joint campaigns to create a social atmosphere where pregnant women are respected.

□ According to this survey, the main responses are as follows:

○ 67.7% of pregnant women responded that they had "experienced receiving help from strangers during pregnancy," while 78.1% of the general public responded that they had "experienced offering help to a pregnant woman they met for the first time." This indicates a difference in the perceived level of consideration towards pregnant women.

- The gap in the experience of consideration between pregnant women and the general public is 10.4%p, narrower than the previous year's (12.1%p) but still exists.

○ Regarding "the area where they received the most help at home," pregnant women responded with "sharing of household chores" (43.3%), while the general public chose "emotional support from spouse and family" (29.1%) as the area where they provided the most help.

○ While pregnant women with work experience considered "adjusting working time" (43.5%) to be the most needed help in the workplace, the general public considered "changing to a safer work environment" (30.3%) the most necessary.

- In particular, the most negative experience pregnant women had in the workplace was "feeling pressured by superiors and colleagues" (35.5%). Although this is a decrease of 8.4%p from the previous year, it shows that there is still a need to improve the workplace culture for pregnant employees.

○ 92.3% of pregnant women have used the "priority seating for pregnant women" on public transportation, and 57.6% of them felt inconvenienced while using it.

- The biggest reason for feeling inconvenienced was that "the general public did not give up their seats after sitting down," accounting for 73.1%.

○ In particular, the general public's "awareness rate of priority seating for pregnant women" was very high at 95.3%.

- When asked "whether it is better to leave priority seating for pregnant women empty," 51.1% of pregnant women and 73.1% of the general public, a figure 22%p higher than that of pregnant women, responded that "it should be left empty."

- The opinion that "it is better to yield the seat than to leave it empty" was much higher among pregnant women (48.9%) than the general public (26.1%).

○ Regarding the "awareness rate of the pregnant women emblem," 87.4% of pregnant women and 76.9% of the general public were aware of it, which is higher than the previous year (1.8% increase for pregnant women and 7% increase for the general public).

- In particular, considering that 67% of pregnant women have experienced being given consideration after wearing the emblem, it seems that promoting the wearing of the emblem is important, along with improving public awareness, appears to be important for pregnant women to smoothly utilize priority seating.

□ The Ministry of Health and Welfare and KoPHWA have been promoting joint campaigns of support for pregnant women with transportation corporations nationwide since 2015 to inform people of the difficulties faced by pregnant women and encourage public consideration.

○ In particular, in 2024, starting with a campaign with KBS announcers on Seoul Transportation Corporation, various transportation corporations promoted their own programs for consideration of pregnant women, such as Busan Transportation Corporation's Pink Light and Airport Railroad's priority boarding system for pregnant women (pilot operation). They worked to spread a culture of respect for pregnant women.

○ Lee Sam-sik, President of KoPHWA, stated, "I hope that the results of this awareness survey will provide an opportunity for citizens to put their consideration for pregnant women into practice."

○ He added, "KoPHWA will continue to carry out various activities to create a social atmosphere where pregnant women can live safely and are respected."

Latest Updates

2024 Survey Results: Awareness and Practice of Support for Pregnant Women