Single mom slammed for adoption listing in online marketplace
By Jun Ji-hye
Police on Jeju Island are investigating a woman in her 20s who listed her newborn baby for adoption on an online secondhand items marketplace, according to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, Sunday.
This captured image shows a newborn baby put up for adoption on Danggeun Market, an online marketplace for secondhand items.
The woman uploaded a post to Danggeun Market, Friday, with two photos of the newborn baby, saying “36-week old baby available for adoption” ― referring to the 36th week of pregnancy ― with a suggested price of 200,000 won ($175).
When an online market user sent a message to the woman and asked the reason for giving the baby up for adoption, the woman said she had decided to do so because the baby's father was absent.
The post was deleted from Danggeun Market soon after but screen captures quickly spread to other online communities, which led some internet users to report the listing to the police.
On Saturday, police traced an IP address and located the 27-year-old woman who had posted the listing. The woman lives in Seogwipo, Jeju Island.
She uploaded the post from a public postnatal care center after giving birth prematurely last Wednesday.
A police official reported that both the baby and the mother are healthy and safe.
During police questioning, the woman said she uploaded the post in a fit of anger while undergoing counseling regarding adoption procedures at a single mothers' support center.
Many internet users are expressing anger over the case. One Facebook user wrote, “I kept hoping that it was a lie,” while another user wrote on a Naver blog, “The woman may have mental problems.”
Police said they are looking into whether the woman has violated the Child Welfare Law, but at the same time, are reviewing measures to support her and her baby in cooperation with relevant institutions.