“I’m a housewife from Seoul and I developed a subarachnoid cyst in my uterus and had surgery to remove it. Our family really wants to have children. They say it would be possible to use a surrogate mother. If there is someone that you could put me in touch with, that would be great. -- With thanks and gratitude.” This was a post from a 39-year-old woman on a Yahoo site. She is specific about her demands, seeking documented date of last period, age of first menstruation, previous pregnancies, abortions, and any diseases or surgery.

On other portals, meanwhile, one woman writes: “I am applying to become a surrogate mother. I have given birth before. I live in North Gyeongsang Province and I am 31 years old.” Another says, “I am a prospective surrogate mother. I am 24 years old and a graduate of a four-year university. My blood type is AB.” A third wants to be an egg donor. “My blood type is O and I am 159cm tall.”

According to the law, selling eggs is illegal, but there are no regulations for surrogate mothers. That is why the industry has no problems luring cash-strapped young women. Surrogate mothers are paid W30-40 million (US$1=W956), while egg donors get W3-4 million. One result has been that more and more Japanese infertile Japanese women seek Korean surrogates.

In 2003, Japan completely banned surrogate pregnancies and industry brokering. One Tokyo-based fertility clinic posted a notice on its web site saying, “The price of implanting a surrogate pregnancy in Korea is about half that of the U.S., while the level of treatment is about the same. For more detailed information, please call or write.” The going price listed for the procedure is 7 million yen, or around W56 million.

Grand National Party lawmaker Bahk Jae-wan on Monday published Ministry of Health and Welfare materials which say there are 13 Internet groups on major domestic portal sites related to surrogate mothering, 65 related ads, and 2,295 users registered to the groups. “With the lax regulations on surrogate pregnancies in Korea, the number of Japanese finding surrogate mothers here is rising. My concern is that we could be reduced to Japan’s womb colony.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )