Overview

• Since 2007, Babybox Korea has taken in 2,181 infants as of March 2025, providing a last refuge for anonymous surrender.
• The number of babies surrendered has shifted with policy changes, rising after a 2012 adoption law, falling following a 2019 abortion ruling, and remaining significant post-2024 anonymous birth law.
• Fifty-eight infants were left at the facility in 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges for single mothers despite new anonymity protections.
• Nearly 13% of mothers gave birth outside hospitals, prompting Babybox Korea to offer 24-hour care, counseling and three years of financial and legal support.
• A 2023 Welfare Ministry survey found 249 babies born between 2015 and 2022 died without official registration, underscoring risks beyond abandonment.