Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Newsis

A new policy aimed at protecting single mothers and their newborns is set to go into effect on Friday, as Korea takes steps to address the issue of "ghost babies," or infants left without birth registration, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Thursday.

The primary goal of the two-point policy is to prevent new babies from remaining undocumented by operating an information-sharing system among all the institutions responsible for looking after them.

The policy requires hospitals and other medical institutions to report newborn babies to the state-run Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, which will then share the data promptly with local government officials. So far, only parents have been chiefly responsible for registering births, except in cases where exceptional circumstances apply.

If a parent fails to register the birth of their child within 30 days, they would be notified by officials to do so within the next seven days. If they still do not register the birth, the head of the local office in charge must seek a court approval to register the birth on their behalf.

This does not mean that parents are no longer responsible for registering their newborn babies. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to 50,000 won ($36).

“The introduction of the birth reporting system is the critical first step toward guaranteeing the rights of all children and making sure that they are registered and protected within the public system,” Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said during a media conference at the Government Complex Seoul. “We will continue to improve the system so that all children can grow as healthy members of our society and live happy lives.”

The policy implementation was triggered after two unregistered babies were found dead in a refrigerator in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in June 2023. Investigators concluded that they were murdered by their mother in 2018 and 2019, respectively, apparently due to financial reasons.

Later, the Board of Audit and Inspection released a report in which it said 2,236 babies born in medical institutions between 2015 and 2022 remained unregistered. Soon, a public outcry ensued over the government's lax system. The actual number is believed to be far higher when including those born outside hospitals or clinics.

A "baby box" is seen at Jusarang Community Church in Seoul, in this July 9, 2023 photo. A new policy aiming to protect single mothers and their newborns is set to come into force, Friday, as Korea moves to address the issue of “ghost babies,” or unregistered births. Yonhap

Yet the announcement of the automatic registration system has drawn worries.

Critics say it could make some challenged mothers, particularly single mothers, even more reluctant to seek medical assistance if they want to keep their pregnancy secret.

That's where the second part of the policy comes in. Ministry officials said it will allow mothers in need of asistance to use health care services without revealing their identity.

If they wish, they can use services provided by medical institutions and leave their babies in the hands of the government.

This raises another concern that some could exploit the system as a mere means of handing over their responsibility to the government.

Officials acknowledged that while such challenges may be inevitable, the most important priority is to ensure that these babies and their mothers receive professional medical help first and foremost.

Moreover, for those who are unwilling to take responsibility for their children after birth, officials provide counseling services to inform them of state support available for child care and other information that may be helpful to them. Mothers considering giving up their children are required to take a week to deliberate on the matter before foregoing their rights as parents.

“I believe this policy could potentially save many parents and children from health risks they would otherwise face,” a youth counselor, surnamed Suh who works at a state-sponsored organization, told The Korea Times. “It's commendable that it is focused on not just babies, but also their mothers.”