Parents Who Sold Their Child for 4 Million Won... Caught After 12 Years and Their Statement

A couple in their 30s and five others were caught for the first time in 12 years for buying and selling two newborns, citing financial inability to raise them.

On the 13th, Yonhap News reported that the Ojeong Police Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, filed charges without detention against the couple in their 30s, Mr. and Mrs. A, a woman in her 20s, Ms. B, and the couples Mr. and Mrs. C and Mr. and Mrs. D, who received the newborns for money, on suspicion of child trafficking under the Child Welfare Act, and sent the case to the prosecution.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo source=Pixabay]

Investigations revealed that both the couples A and B contacted couples C and D through the internet and then handed over the newborns. In 2012, Mr. A posted a message online about ‘private adoption.’ Although he was investigated by the police at the time, he was released without charges.

Their activities from 12 years ago came to light last December when Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province reported to the police, requesting them to locate children whose births had not been registered. Based on Mr. A’s past call records, the police reopened the investigation and secured evidence and testimonies to prove child trafficking. The couple A is suspected of handing over a newborn born in a hospital in October 2012 to the couple C in their 50s for 4 million won.

During the police investigation, Mr. A stated, “My wife was too young 12 years ago and was unable to raise the child.” Ms. B also said, “As a single mother, I lacked the confidence to raise the child alone, so I handed the baby over to another couple.” According to the Ojeong Police Station, the two victim children were not registered in Bucheon City but were registered in other regions where their new parents live.

Ms. B, a single mother, is also suspected of selling another newborn born in a different hospital in the same month to the couple D in their 40s. Ms. B claimed again, “As a single mother, I lacked the confidence to raise the child alone, so I handed the baby over to another couple.” The police stated that the two victim children were registered in regions other than Bucheon City where couples C and D live.

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A police official told Yonhap News, “The two victim children were not registered in Bucheon City but were registered in other regions where their new parents live,” adding, “They are currently doing well in their new families, so we cannot disclose specific investigation details.”

Earlier, the police viewed that related crimes were occurring nationwide, considering that brokers involved in newborn trafficking were consecutively arrested last year in Incheon, Daegu, and Asan, Chungnam. However, the number of brokers arrested on suspicion of child trafficking under the Child Welfare Act was only one in 2018, one in 2019, one in 2020, zero in 2021, and six in 2022.

There are also criticisms that the complicated formal adoption procedures contribute to the active underground trade of newborns, including online.

According to the Special Adoption Act revised in 2012, only babies whose births have been registered can be adopted in principle, and private adoptions without the involvement of the state or adoption agencies are, in principle, punishable. Especially if there is a monetary transaction, the charge of ‘child trafficking’ applies, which is a serious crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.