On November 16, 2020, Sayuri Fujita, a Japanese TV celebrity living in South Korea, surprised many when she revealed that she was now a single mother purely by choice. Fujita posted a picture of her holding her pregnant belly with the caption, “On November 4, 2020, I became a mother to my son. Becoming a single mother was not an easy decision, but it is also not a shameful decision.” Due to the strict regulations of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in South Korea, Fujita had to travel back to her home country for a sperm donation. Fujita’s decision to become a single mother through artificial insemination brought waves of attention to her and her child, directing the spotlight on the restrictions unmarried women face in South Korea.
As a woman over the age of 40, the probability of naturally conceiving a baby was getting slim for Fujita. Although Fujita did not want to lose her chances of having a biological child, she equally did not want to marry someone for the sake of experiencing the joys of motherhood. However, the access restrictions for any form of artificial insemination in South Korea deemed her to be unqualified for a sperm donation. The prime reason as to why was because she had no spouse.
Under South Korea’s Bioethics and Safety Act, only married women are granted access to artificial insemination procedures as the consent of one’s legal spouse is currently a mandatory element to this process. The marital framework that the government is pressing forward has largely to do with the underlying roots of Confucianism deeply embedded in Korean society. This has created a social stigma surrounding single mothers, deeming them unfit to raise children on their own. Many believe this unjust social perception has unjust and unnecessary constraints for women. Fujita’s pregnancy stimulated heated debate about women’s right to self-determination, and their right to delve into motherhood – married or not.
Korea’s unjust system for women’s right to self-determination is clearly shown in the abortion law. Abortion in Korea is not criminalized but is only an option until the 14th week of pregnancy. As it is only partially allowed, it can be said that the right to self-determination is only partially protected. It is important to realize that starting and ending a pregnancy directly affects the mother as it drastically shifts her life. Therefore, no woman should be told otherwise when she chooses abortion as what is best for herself.
Likewise, different options to conceive a child should be accepted. As long as a woman finds herself to be ready to raise a baby, she should be given the chance, regardless of her age and marital status. When taking into consideration South Korea’s low fertility rate – dropping to a historic record of 0.84 births in the second quarter of 2020 *Statistics Korea* – the fact that current laws are obsolete when it comes to artificial insemination becomes even clearer.
The response to Fujita’s Instagram post was explosive. There were thousands of comments applauding her courage to share her experience in a society with conservative roots. After a long wait, it is now the time for Korea to embrace diverse family structures by breaking down closed doors to assisted reproductive services. Being a single mother is no longer a flaw, it is simply a choice.