A Woman Arrested and Indicted for Selling Babies by Acting as a Paid Surrogate for Infertile Couples and 'Mother Switching' Scheme

Approached Pregnant Woman Posting Parenting Concerns Online
Also Acted as Surrogate for Infertile Couple for 55 Million Won

A woman in her 30s was brought to trial for purchasing four babies from single mothers and others by approaching pregnant women who were unable to raise a child, having them receive hospital treatment under her name, and giving birth, then handing the babies over to other couples.

The Daegu District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Jang Il-hee) announced on the 7th that A (37, female) was arrested and indicted on charges of purchasing babies from single mothers and others (child trafficking under the Child Welfare Act). A’s husband, who was involved in the crime, and seven single mothers in their 20s to 30s were indicted without detention.

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From October 2020 to last March, A approached pregnant women who posted concerns about childbirth and parenting on internet portal sites, had them receive hospital treatment under her name to give birth, effectively switching the mothers. She is also accused of purchasing babies from single mothers and others and falsely registering the births as children of other couples.

A’s crime was uncovered in March when she tried to take a newborn from a university hospital in Daegu, pretending to be the biological mother, but was caught after hospital staff became suspicious and reported her. At that time, the mother B used A’s personal information during hospitalization and childbirth, and A paid the hospital bills. It was also reported that A gave money to B under the pretext of postpartum care.

Additionally, A approached infertile couples, acted as a surrogate mother by giving birth herself, and handed over the baby to the infertile couples for about 55 million won. Another offense revealed was that she offered money to a single mother in exchange for providing eggs.

A prosecution official stated, "The police are currently investigating additional child trafficking cases, and we will cooperate with the police to strictly respond to these inhumane crimes involving the trafficking of children."

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