Why pregnant Korean women want their children born on Nov. 11

Seoul - November 11, 2011, holds center stage in the lives of many pregnant South Korean women who wish to deliver their babies on this particular date. Many are even willing to undergo Caesarean section for this purpose.

MyJoyOnline reports that many of these expecting mothers have requested hospitals for C-sections on Nov. 11. This year, about 20 percent more expecting women as compared to previous years in South Korea have asked to give birth via caesarean section on Nov. 11. Even women who are expecting delivery a week later have requested forced delivery on this particular day. The reason for all the enthusiasm around the date is because of the sequence of digits representing the day, month and year: 11/11/11. In South Korea, the official identity number of each citizen has 13 digits, the first 6 of which come from their date of birth. By giving birth on Nov. 11, 2011, these women wish to get their children the unique identity number starting 111111 for a lifetime. Nov. 11 is also celebrated as Pepero Day, named after the popular Korean snack Pepero. Not everyone thinks forced C-sections are a good idea, however. The Terra Oriental Medicine Blog is one such critic, noting that mothers who give birth via caesarean section put an end to the ability to give birth under natural conditions. After a C-section, each subsequent birth also needs to be a C-section. In addition, caesarean sections can present a number of complications and risks both for the mother and the infant.