Understanding the systemic barriers, social pressures, and economic challenges unwed mothers face in South Korea.
97% → 100%
Of overseas adoptees from Korea were born to unwed mothers.
93%
Surveys show 93% of unwed mothers were pressured toward abortion or adoption.
₩200,000
(~$180 USD) monthly allowance provided by the government to eligible single parents.
Social Perception & Pressure
In 2009, when the Korean Unwed Mothers Families Association was founded, about 1,000 children were adopted overseas, and 97 per cent were from unwed mothers. And in 2019, 100% of overseas adoptees from Korea were children of unwed mothers. This statics shows just how difficult it is for unwed mothers to raise their children in Korea.
South Korea is one of the world’s leading OECD countries, but people’s perception of women remains in the old days. Society morally condemns A woman who gave birth to a child without marriage. In particular, society judge and criticize unwed mothers for being sexually promiscuous, and even their families don’t protect unwed mother. During pregnancy, families force them to have an abortion, and there is no way but to leave their homes only to save their children, and when they enter unwed mothers’ facilities, they are continually pressured or forced to give up their babies for adoption.
Unwed Mothers Standing Together
Under this situation, unwed mothers who chose to raise their children rather than opting for abortion or adoption came together to create a better society for themselves. They were firmly resolved to raise their children by helping one another, since neither their families nor the country was helpful to them.
Systemic Pressure & Economic Vulnerability
The perception of unwed mothers has slowly progressed over the last decade, even though many concerns and criticisms caused it. However, according to a survey of unwed mothers conducted from October 2017 to May 2018, 93 per cent of unwed mothers were still forced to abort or adopt after conception and childbirth.
As of 2017, the number of children adopted overseas decreased to 400, but most of them are still from unwed mothers. Without support from their families, they are destined to fall into poverty because they cannot get any help related to pregnancy and childbirth, and few companies hire unwed mothers when they know their status through background checks. That is why when unwed mothers decide to raise their children, they become poorer and less confident, and are more likely to have lower self-esteem as they go into hiding.
Inadequate Governmental Support
There is a lack of financial support from the government as well. In Korea, 200,000 won (~$180 USD) a month is given to a single parent if their monthly income is less than 1.55 million won (~$1,400 USD).
Considering that the average Korean household monthly income hovers around 4 million won (~$3,640 USD)—based on a survey conducted by the National Statistical Office and the Bank of Korea in 2017—it is unfortunate to say that governmental financial support does not practically benefit single-parent families in any meaningful way.
Unwed mothers, who receive no proper help during pregnancy or childbirth and fear social abuse, go to extreme lengths in some cases, abandoning or losing their children. In short, despite a fast-growing society, Korean unwed mothers remain in a dead zone resulting from a lack of governmental support, unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, and deep-rooted prejudices.
Background Check & Legal Registry Barriers
Birth certificates or family certificates are often used for public submission in many different social settings. In Korean society, unwed mothers’ children are labeled as "extra-marital children"on the birth registry.
When unwed mothers register their children’s birth, they must tick the box labeled "extra-marital children" on the birth report form. While this holds no legal penalty against them or their children, having this status exposed to others—whether in schools or workplaces—causes them to face obscure and unjustifiable disadvantages in reality.
