Controversy Over 'Baby Adoption Posts': Wrong, But Calls for Improvement in Single Mother Protection System

Controversy Over "Adopting a Child" Post on Danggeun Market
Issues of Unwed Mothers' Crimes... Need to Strengthen Father's Responsibility and Improve Prejudice
Political Circles: "Women Facing Criticism Must Be Protected"
Experts: "Institutional Support Needed for Unwed Mothers and Fathers"

On the 16th, a post appeared on the secondhand goods trading application 'Danggeun Market' offering a 36-week-old baby for sale. / Photo by Danggeun Market app screenshot

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] As a single mother in her 20s posted a message on the secondhand goods trading app 'Danggeun Market' saying she wanted to put her child up for adoption, sparking a flood of criticism, there are also views that institutional support is needed to improve prejudices against single mothers and the difficult environment of raising a child alone.

Public opinion strongly calls for social support to help single mothers become truly independent. Experts have suggested that institutional support for single mothers and single fathers is necessary.

Earlier on the 16th, a post titled "Putting up a child for adoption. 36 weeks old" was uploaded in the Seogwipo City category of Danggeun Market. The post included two photos showing the child wrapped in a blanket, and the transaction amount was set at 200,000 won.

When another user who saw the post asked the author why she wanted to put the child up for adoption, she reportedly replied, "The child's father is not by my side, so it's difficult to raise the child alone." The single mother, Ms. A, who posted the message, reportedly stated during a police investigation that she was angry after giving birth without the baby's father and receiving counseling on adoption procedures at a single mother center.

According to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, although Ms. A wrote "36-week child" in the post, it was investigated that she actually gave birth at a maternity hospital in Jeju on the 13th. The police have identified that Ms. A is unemployed, the whereabouts of the child's father are unclear, and she is economically struggling to raise the child. However, based on the fact that Ms. A said she would receive 200,000 won as a condition for putting the baby up for adoption, the police plan to investigate whether there was a violation of the Child Welfare Act.

As this fact became known, online public opinion flooded with criticism of Ms. A. Netizens responded with comments such as, "How can a person who is a mother think about selling her own child for 200,000 won?", "It's not even an object, and using Danggeun Market for this?what crime did the child commit?", "Regardless of the reason, she is truly heartless and scary," and "She must be held accountable for disregarding life," continuing to criticize Ms. A.

Photo by Yonhap News

However, some point out prejudiced views against single mothers and the social environment that forces them to commit such crimes as problems. Office worker Ms. Lee (27) said, "What that woman did deserves criticism, but on the other hand, it's heartbreaking that a mother had to take responsibility for the child alone without help from those around her," adding, "Every time a crime involving a single mother occurs, there is a strong voice blaming women and demanding responsibility only from women."

According to a survey, when childbirth occurs outside of marriage, the responsibility for raising the child falls significantly more on women than men. In the '2016 Population and Housing Census' released by Statistics Korea in 2016, among 33,108 single mothers and single fathers raising children under 18, single mothers accounted for 72.3% (23,936), while single fathers accounted for 27.7% (9,172).

Also, single mothers were found to experience economic and mental difficulties during the child-rearing process. According to the 'Status and Needs of Single Mothers Raising Children' survey conducted by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association in 2018 targeting 359 single mothers, the average monthly income of single mothers was 923,000 won, which did not even reach 1 million won per month.

61.6% of respondents answered that they had "no earned income," and 10.0% of the total responded that they had "no income at all." Regarding the child's father, although there was recognition of childbirth and child-rearing (88.9% and 85.5%, respectively), only 11.7% received economic support from the father. Among respondents, 77.2% reported experiencing postpartum depression, and 73.5% suffered from depression caused by child-rearing.

In particular, respondents answered that "strengthening the legal responsibility of single fathers" (50.7%) was the most necessary to improve social prejudice and discrimination against single mothers. Most single mothers face economic difficulties while raising children alone, and there is an analysis that responsibility for single fathers should be strengthened to improve these problems.

There are also opinions within the political sphere that institutional measures to protect single mothers and support them are necessary.

Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong wrote on his Facebook on the 18th, "I fully understand the anger of those who are upset, but society should help rather than criticize first," adding, "If you cannot raise the child alone, our society should help with adoption procedures and other means to raise the child."

Governor Won added, "We will protect and support women who face social criticism amid fear and despair," and "If necessary, we will provide psychological treatment and look for ways to improve the system."

Kim Mi-ae, a member of the People Power Party, also wrote on her Facebook the same day, "As a lawyer, I have experienced several cases where a heavily pregnant woman came for counseling, not knowing what to do because the man abandoned her," pointing out, "After childbirth, recognition claims, designation of parental authority and caregiver, child support claims, and subsequent child support collection all remain the responsibility of the woman raising a newborn alone. Raising a child alone is almost unimaginable."

Kim added, "Having a child is the result of a joint act between a man and a woman. The man's responsibility must also be discussed," emphasizing, "If there is no home, job, or auxiliary caregiver, support should be provided until stable independence is achieved, even if it is at a shelter. If it is difficult and the decision is made to put the child up for adoption, the procedure should be assisted. The overall problems of the current system must be reviewed."

Experts emphasize the need for institutional support and policy education for single mothers and single fathers, and that both men and women should reflect on their responsibilities regarding pregnancy and childbirth.

Attorney Lee Eun-ui (Lee Eun-ui Law Office) said regarding this controversy, "There is criticism of the single mother's actions, and on the other hand, opinions clash that she must have been driven to do such a thing," adding, "However, this case shows that single mothers are in such desperate situations in our society, and that people facing such difficulties find it hard to access institutional support policies."

Attorney Lee continued, "There is no information on what support can be received and used when a child is born alone. If single mothers had easier access to such support policies, they would not have posted such messages," emphasizing, "Before criticizing single mothers, education is needed on what support is available in socioeconomically difficult conditions for childbirth and child-rearing, and both men and women should reflect on their responsibilities regarding pregnancy and childbirth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.