This blog post examines the reality of infertile Korean couples having to go all the way to India for surrogacy and the social and ethical issues behind it.
One in seven Korean couples is infertile. This infertility problem is not just an individual problem, but is directly linked to the low birth rate problem and is emerging as an important social issue that requires national attention. In particular, as the age of marriage has been getting later, the age of women preparing for pregnancy and childbirth has been getting higher, and the number of infertile couples is increasing. As a result, various technologies and methods related to infertility treatment have emerged, but among them, surrogacy has become a realistic alternative for infertile couples. Therefore, the number of infertile couples getting children through surrogacy is increasing.
In the United States and India, for example, surrogate mothers are recognized as legal representatives of women. Indian women are particularly preferred because they are inexpensive and do not drink or smoke for religious reasons. In countries where the role of a surrogate mother is legally recognized, surrogate mothers are often seen as a means of earning a living, and as a result, professional surrogate mother agencies are actively operating in some regions. As a result, there are more and more cases where a Korean couple goes to India to implant an embryo made with their own genes into a surrogate mother’s womb and then receive the child 10 months later. The agencies that organize these kinds of things say that there is no reason for problems to arise because the contracts are legally drawn up perfectly and recognized by the Indian government. They also teach the couples who return to Korea with their children how to register the birth like a biological child.
However, this process involves various ethical and cultural issues, as well as a great physical and emotional burden on both the couple and the surrogate mother. In South Korea, if a surrogate mother claims parental rights over the child, it places a burden on the infertile couple legally and ethically, but Indian surrogate mothers cannot claim parental rights under Indian law. Many people are realizing the need for social systems in light of the reality of Korean infertile couples who have no choice but to rely on overseas surrogates.
First of all, I am surprised that there are so many infertile couples in Korea. The issue of “surrogacy” is at the center of an ethical debate that is being fiercely fought between the pro and anti sides. For a couple who desperately wants a child, having a child with the consent of both parties is a satisfactory win-win strategy, as long as they can reach an agreement with the surrogate mother. After all, humans have the right to self-preservation and the pursuit of happiness. However, from the opposite perspective, there are concerns about the commodification of women’s wombs, as well as problems with the mother-child attachment relationship during pregnancy, health problems of the fetus or surrogate mother during pregnancy, emotional problems of the child to be born, and disruption of family relationships.
The ethical controversy over surrogacy is not simply a matter of individual choice or rights. It is essentially asking the question of what values a country and society will pursue. The issue of “surrogate motherhood” is a sensitive and difficult issue to conclude, as it is still not possible to determine which side is ethically correct. However, if “surrogate motherhood” continues to emerge as it is now, I believe that Korea needs to actively intervene and provide help and management. We should not turn a blind eye to the issue of “surrogate motherhood” by only discussing the pros and cons.
In Korea, there are not many surrogate mothers due to cost issues, social stigmas, and parental rights issues. Couples have to travel to India, a faraway country, to have a child because of the ambiguous stance of the government and the law, which is a waste both nationally and personally. To solve this problem, it is necessary to help prepare for it in Korea. Many experts argue that efforts should be made to reduce the financial burden and improve social awareness by establishing a system related to surrogate mothers.
First, a government-related organization is needed to oversee the work related to “surrogate motherhood.” This organization will connect newlywed couples diagnosed with infertility with volunteer surrogate mothers and act as a contract intermediary. The organization will conduct a thorough examination of the couple to determine the cause of infertility and carefully decide whether there are any other solutions besides a surrogate mother. Surrogates are strictly screened for their health and whether they have an appropriate living environment for pregnancy management, and only those who pass the screening are given the status of surrogates. Instead of allowing couples and surrogates to privately negotiate prices to prevent the commercialization of women’s sex, a system should be implemented in which the state provides payments to surrogates. In addition, while the surrogate mother is pregnant, the government will send a dedicated management team to check the living environment and nutritional status of the child and the surrogate mother, and to ensure that any problems are dealt with immediately.
It will be difficult to legalize surrogate motherhood, but the management agency can register contract surrogates and couples and relieve the couple’s anxiety by obtaining a written promise from the surrogate mother not to claim parental rights. Such a system would allow couples and surrogate mothers to clarify their legal responsibilities and minimize unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts. Finally, once the children are born, they will continue to care for and support them, and if necessary, arrange meetings between the children born through surrogate motherhood to help them establish their identities.
Of course, there will still be humanitarian issues that are difficult to solve even with such national support. For a couple, meeting each other, starting a cozy family, and having children together is their most cherished dream and the connection between them. If they cannot have children, they will feel a great sense of loss and sadness. I know this because I have seen people like this around me. There is no one who does not understand the psychological pain and longing that infertile couples feel, as having children is a great joy and meaning in itself.
First and foremost, before we can fundamentally solve the ethical issue of surrogacy, we need to first educate women and men of childbearing age about healthy lifestyles and eating habits to prevent infertility. Recently, there has been a growing number of studies showing that factors such as environmental pollution, food safety issues, and stress have a significant impact on fertility and infertility. Such education should not only be targeted at newlyweds and young women, but also be provided through school education, including elementary, middle, and high schools, public service announcements, and various media outlets. Efforts should be made to introduce and publicize prevention programs and guidelines at the national level.
