"Newborn Sale Post for 200,000 Won, a Criminal Act but... Counseling and Support Needed"

On the 16th, a post appeared on a Korean used goods trading mobile application offering a 36-week-old baby for sale. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] As controversy intensifies over a woman in her 20s posting on a secondhand goods trading mobile application that she would sell her newborn baby for 200,000 won, calls have emerged for a support system for unmarried mothers.

Kim Do-kyung, president of the Korea Unmarried Mothers and Families Association, said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 19th, "If raising the child could lead to worse outcomes, separation or adoption should be considered," adding, "Sufficient counseling on the mother's psychological state is necessary."

Kim said, "In Korea, except for facilities for very poor unmarried mothers, there are no special policies supporting unmarried mothers alone," and added, "If they truly want to raise the child, related assistance will be provided, but if they really cannot raise the child, the adoption process should be supported."

Earlier, A (26), an unmarried mother living in Jeju-do, posted on a secondhand goods trading application on the afternoon of the 16th a post titled 'Giving up baby for adoption. 36 weeks old. Adoption price 200,000 won,' along with two photos of the baby. It is known that A stated during police investigation that she was angry after learning that, with no father present, she would be counseled on the adoption procedure at an unmarried mother center, which led her to post such a message.

According to the police, A went to the hospital alone to give birth and expressed her intention to give the baby up for adoption immediately after delivery.

A post about trading a newborn baby was uploaded on a secondhand goods mobile application on the 16th. Photo by Online Community

Regarding this, Kim said, "No matter how much mothers may struggle, they do not think about selling their child," and criticized, "She posted the message out of frustration because the adoption counseling process and period were too complicated and lengthy. These procedures are naturally required. Still, she posted it on the secondhand trading app to resolve it quickly because it was complicated, which is truly incomprehensible."

She added, "The problem is that this is a criminal act, but she did not realize it."

At the same time, Kim said, "If there is family support during difficult times, one can endure, but she lacks family support," and added, "Although things are gradually improving, women who have indirectly learned about this through media or news often consider giving up their child even before birth."

She continued, "If the father refuses to pay child support, there is almost no enforceable law in our country. The only new measure is that since May this year, a father's driver's license can be suspended for non-payment of child support, but there are no other legal sanctions," adding, "Finding the child's father and then getting his consent for a DNA test takes a very long time and is often impossible."

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