The "baby box" system was made for parents who don't have the ability to raise babies. At present, some countries like the Czech Republic, Japan, and Germany use the system. In Korea, the Jesus Love Community church's minister Lee Jong-rak also has conducted this system since 2009.



Pro

The baby box was made to prevent the death of infants who were abandoned. Only a church in Gwanak-gu in Seoul has it in Korea. It has two doors, one for parents who want to put the baby in it and the other for caretakers to take babies. When a caretaker hears the alarm bell connected to the baby box, he can take the baby into the church through the second door. Parents who are not able to take care of their baby can put him or her in this. However, it is causing controversy these days. There are arguments both for and against the baby box. I think the baby box has positive effects.

First of all, although there are many facilities to take babies safely in foreign countries, Korea lacks them. A lot of foreign governments have accepted the danger of abandoned babies and have installed places to put babies. For example, in Germany, Baby Slot, which is a place to leave babies, has been taking babies since 2000. In Japan, Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto set up Baby Post to care for abandoned newborn babies. The Korean baby box was designed by Pastor Lee Jong-rak. Since it was installed in 2009, twenty nine abandoned babies have been found and are growing up healthy.

Second, as everyone’s life is important, we should not to let infants die on the road. According to the Korea National Police Agency, over 50 incidents of abandonment of a baby and over 10 incidents of infanticide happen every year. Moreover, the national police agency announced that 32.4 percent of people who were arrested for abandonment of a baby and infanticide were under the age of 20. In other words, teens who have a baby but don’t have the ability to raise him have the potential to abandon the baby.

Third, the baby box can give enough time for young mothers who have decided to abandon their babies to reconsider it. Pastor Lee actually has talked over the matter with parents and persuaded them to rear their babies. Indeed, some parents who wanted to leave their baby went home with the baby after talking to Pastor Lee and thinking seriously about the baby and themselves.

The baby box has been saving many babies’ lives. Its ultimate purpose is not to promote abandonment of babies but to protect them from danger. Therefore, I hope the baby box stays. Also, the Korean government should try to make an environment where people who don’t have the ability to raise their babies can leave them at an orphanage.




Con

The “baby box” system was made for parents who don’t have the ability to raise their babies. If parents can’t raise their baby, they can leave the baby behind in the baby box. At present, some countries like the Czech Republic use the system. In Korea, the Jesus Love Community church’s minister Lee Jong-rack also has conducted this system since 2009. Like in other countries, installing the baby box in Korea has been controversial. I oppose the baby box.

First, the baby box doesn’t bring any good result. Originally the pastor made the baby box to save a baby’s life and to reduce infanticide. The pastor thought leaving a baby in the baby box is better than deserting a baby in a garbage dump and it can reduce infanticide. However, critics in other countries which already use the baby box like Germany said the baby box cannot actually reduce infanticide. Furthermore, it might increase the possibility of abandoning children because abandoning a baby in a baby box is easier than at a public adoption agency. In this respect, the Ministry of Health and Welfare told Lee Jong-rack to abolish the baby box system.

Next, abandoning a baby in the baby box is illegal because the baby is not reported to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Sending a baby to official welfare institutions through an official process is legal. There already are many official systems to raise abandoned babies like adoption, group homes, and foster homes in Korea, so the baby box is unnecessary.

The baby box controversy continues. However, one thing that is certain is the baby box has limits. For instance, the baby box has problems in treating sick infants quickly and handling disabled babies. Furthermore, nowadays, there are many good national child welfare policies and agencies, so the baby box is not necessary.