Stigma Against Unwed South Korean Mothers

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – In an effort to defend mothers’ right to raise their own children, activist are trying to set up what would be South Korea’s first organization of unwed mothers.  This is seen as an unusual step in a “society that ostracizes unmarried mothers.”

South Korea has been trying to improve their image as a “baby exporter.”  However, due to social and cultural pressure, thousands of unwed South Korean mothers choose abortion, which is illegal but widespread, or adoption, which is “socially shameful.”

For example, in 2008, about 90% of babies who were adopted were born to unwed mothers.  In general, almost 96% of unmarried, pregnant women in South Korea choose abortion.

Some Korean families with pregnant, unwed daughters often move to hide the pregnancy, and unmarried women with children usually lie about their marital status in fear that they will be evicted by landlords and their children shunned at schools. 

08mothers_600Unwed single mom, Mok Kyong-wha, with her son.  Courtesy of International Herald Tribune.

33-year old unwed mother, Lee Mee-kyong, said, “Once you become an unwed mom, you’re branded as immoral and a failure.  People treat you as if you had committed a crime.  You fall to the bottom rung of society.” 

Another South Korean woman Chang Ji-young, who gave birth last month, said, “My former boyfriend’s sister screamed…over the phone demanding that I get an abortion.  His mother and sister said it was up to them to decide…because it was their family’s seed.”

One American doctor, Richard Boas, who adopted a Korean baby girl back in 1988, started a group called “Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network,” which defends the rights of unwed pregnant women so that these women can receive support and resources if they choose to keep their babies, instead being compelled to choose adoption. 

Jane Jeong Trenak, Korean adoptee who grew up in the U.S., said, “What we see in South Korea today is discrimination against natural mothers and favoring of adoption at the government level.”  Activists are claiming that “Culture is not an excuse to abuse human rights.”

For more information, please see:

Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network – On further reflection – 13 September 2009

NYT –Group Resists Korean Stigma for Unwed Mothers – 7 October 2009

Yonhap News – Korean Unwed Mothers Pushed to the Brink Become Brave – 8 October 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive