[Report] "Trying to Save Somehow..." Single Mothers Climbing Uphill to Find Baby Boxes at Church Alone

Infant Murder and Abandonment Crimes Erased After 70 Years
Penalty for Abandoning a Dependent Strengthened to Up to 10 Years Imprisonment
Concerns Arise That Single Mothers Who Entrusted Babies May Withdraw

"It's such a steep uphill road there, so it's better to take a taxi."

On the afternoon of the 19th, when a heatwave advisory was issued in most regions nationwide including Seoul, this was the response when asking a man in his 20s at Sillim Station about the location of Jusarang Community Church. This church is a private facility that protects abandoned babies. It is well known as the church with the so-called 'Baby Box.'

If you go up the uphill road for about 10 minutes along Nanggok-ro main street in Sillim-dong, you will arrive at the church. Because of this, the church covers taxi fares for mothers carrying babies who have to climb up. However, most single mothers reportedly appear secretly and leave their babies behind. As single mothers climb the uphill road, they may reflect on self-blame as well as the criticism they will face in the future.

Opinions are sharply divided on the act of leaving babies in the Baby Box and leaving. Choi Min-jung (24), whom we met at Sillim Station, said, "I don't know the stories of single mothers, but one thing is certain: I don't think they leave babies to kill them. They probably look for the Baby Box to save the baby somehow. But if punishments for abandonment are further strengthened, I think they will hide even more."

There are opposing views as well. Some believe that handling it according to relevant laws is sufficient. Park Hyung-tae (36) emphasized, "Abandoning a baby itself is a problem," and added, "They should receive support or punishment according to the relevant laws."

Baby box at Jusarang Community Church in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Han Seunggon

In this situation, as infant murder and abandonment became a major social controversy recently, related punishments were strengthened. On the 18th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed an amendment to the Criminal Act to strengthen punishments so that infant murder and abandonment offenders can be sentenced to the death penalty like general murder and abandonment offenders. This is the first revision in 70 years since the Criminal Act was established in 1953.

Regarding infant abandonment, the previous provision of up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 3 million won for infant abandonment was deleted. Instead, the provisions for general abandonment?up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 5 million won?and for abandonment of ascendants?up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 15 million won?will be applied.

Officials from Jusarang Community Church urged for reasonable and warm legal amendments for single mothers before the punishment is strengthened. Hwang Min-sook, head of the Jusarang Community Crisis Infant Protection Counseling Support Center, whom we met at the single mother counseling room that day, emphasized, "(With the punishment strengthened by the law amendment) single mothers might turn back in front of the Baby Box. I think at least a minimum space where they can breathe should be created." She also claimed, "With the amendment of the Special Adoption Act that enforces birth registration, mothers are actually unable to register births."

She then showed the shower room in the counseling room to the reporter. Hwang said, "When mothers leave babies, we guide them to this counseling room. We talk about the baby's future there and quietly listen to their stories. Many single mothers cry and receive comfort. If sudden bleeding occurs, we clean it right away in that shower room. I want to explain that strengthening punishment is not everything."

While the legal amendment to strengthen punishment for infant abandonment is good, there is a claim that we should hold the hands of single mothers pushed to the edge once more, reasonably examine why they had no choice but to make such decisions, and then amend the law accordingly.

Baby Room, a counseling center for single mothers. The counseling room has a bed where babies can lie down. Photo by Han Seung-gon

The birth notification system pointed out by Director Hwang is the Special Adoption Act. It was enacted in August 2012. According to this law, only children with birth registration can be adopted. Because of this, some argue that after the law was amended to allow adoption only for registered births, the threshold for adoption has actually become higher for those who want to hide the fact of childbirth, such as single mothers, leading to infant abandonment or illegal transactions.

Meanwhile, babies abandoned in the Baby Box are reported to the police, then sent to the responsible district office, followed by the Child Welfare Center, and later placed in foster care, adoption, or child care facilities. During this period, the center takes care of and protects the baby.

Some parents also come back to reclaim their babies during this process. According to the 'Baby Box Project Report,' which analyzed statistics of children abandoned in the Baby Box from 2010 to 2014 over five years, about 30% of parents who left babies in the Baby Box later retrieved them. Although there are criticisms of irresponsibility, it shows that some single mothers perceive the Baby Box as a 'temporary shelter.'

Meanwhile, on June 30, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the 'Amendment to the Act on the Registration of Family Relations, etc.' Under this system, when the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service notifies local governments of a birth, the local government checks whether the birth has been reported and, if necessary, obtains court approval to register the birth ex officio. The state can register the birth even if the parents do not report it.

A baby room where babies placed in the baby box can rest. Center staff are in charge of the babies here 24 hours a day. Photo by Han Seunggon

Regarding the birth notification system, Director Hwang conveyed the words of a single mother. Single mother A said that with the implementation of the birth notification system, mothers might avoid hospital visits, and if she were in such a situation, it would not be easy to visit a hospital. Director Hwang said, "Most mothers who come to the Baby Box are in unavoidable childbirth situations such as unwanted pregnancies." She raised her voice, "If birth registration is forced in such situations, where will single mothers who do not want this go? It could lead to the worst situations."

Given this situation, voices are emerging to introduce a protected childbirth system that allows pregnant women to give birth anonymously. Director Hwang said, "Introducing the protected childbirth system would allow mothers in blind spots to feel at ease. I hope the National Assembly will consider this carefully."

To get to Jusarang Community Church located in Sillim-dong, Seoul, you must keep walking up the uphill road as shown in the photo. The church sign is on the right side in the photo. The church recommends taking a taxi for the safety of single mothers and covers the cost. Photo by Han Seunggon

Currently, countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and Austria have introduced and operate anonymous childbirth systems. Mothers can give birth anonymously with medical assistance and leave the baby behind. The state keeps the biological mother's information sealed and allows the child to access it when they reach a certain age.

Since 2014, Germany, which legally guarantees secret childbirth, has implemented a trust childbirth system that provides medical services to mothers and babies at birth. As a result, in 2017, the German government released a report evaluating the three-year performance of the trust childbirth system. However, major advanced countries like Germany and France removed mitigation provisions for infant murder in the 1990s. This is interpreted as having derived reasonable measures by sufficiently reflecting voices from the field regarding infant abandonment.

Along with urging the introduction of the protected childbirth system, Director Hwang called for a change in societal perception. He said, "Unless perceptions of single mothers change, even if new alternatives come out, prevention will not work." He added, "Our ultimate goal is for the Baby Box to completely disappear from our society. There should be no more single parents suffering and in sorrow. I hope the National Assembly will prepare more reasonable alternatives."

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