"Eggs from Female College Students for 6 Million Won"... Women in Their 40s Who Distributed 'High-Paying Part-Time Job' Flyers Receive Suspended Sentences

Flyers With QR Codes Posted in Busan University Restrooms
High Compensation Offered to Induce Egg Selling

Two women in their 40s who induced egg selling by baiting with high-paying part-time jobs in a university restroom in Busan were brought to trial and sentenced to probation.

On the 24th, Chief Judge Kim Hyunseok of the Busan District Court Criminal Division 5 announced that defendants A and B, who were indicted on charges of violating the Bioethics and Safety Act, were each sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for one year.

Two women in their 40s who induced egg selling by baiting with high-paying part-time jobs in a university restroom in Busan were sentenced to probation. (Photo for article understanding only, unrelated to the article content).

According to the court, in 2024, the two posted flyers advertising "high-income short-term part-time jobs" in the women's restroom of a university in Busan, which included a QR code linking to a KakaoTalk open chat room, in an attempt to recruit egg donors. The flyers mentioned compensation worth several million won.

After the flyers were posted, it was found that six people contacted A and seven people contacted B within a week. They offered compensation of about 5 to 6 million won under the pretense of "egg donation," but it was revealed that no actual transaction took place.

During the investigation, it was confirmed that B made remarks in the chat room such as, "This is about donating eggs. I will make sure to give you sufficient compensation," in an attempt to encourage voluntary participation.

The current Bioethics and Safety Act strictly prohibits inducing or brokering the provision of eggs, sperm, or embryos in exchange for financial compensation. Anyone found buying or selling eggs for monetary gain can be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 20 million won. In addition, brokering the sale of another person's eggs is subject to the same level of criminal punishment, and advertising or promoting such activities can result in up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Chief Judge Kim Hyunseok stated, "This case is an act that disregards the value of life, and the nature of the crime is by no means light." However, he added, "In determining the sentence, I considered the fact that the defendants admitted their wrongdoing, deeply reflected on their actions, and both are first-time offenders."