You Can Skip the Wait and Get Discounts... Outcry Erupts as Pregnant Woman Badge Appears on Secondhand Platforms

Pregnant Woman Badges Traded on Secondhand Platforms
Concerns Grow Over Misuse for Discounts and Benefits
Legal Framework Unclear; May Constitute Fraud Depending on Circumstances

The 'Pregnant Woman Badge,' which is provided to accommodate women in the early stages of pregnancy, is fueling controversy as it is traded or distributed for free on secondhand trading platforms. As instances of abuse—such as using the badge for access to reserved seats on public transportation, priority services at airports, and various discount benefits—continue to emerge, calls for institutional reform are growing.

On July 18, Yonhap News reported that, on June 26, a screenshot of a secondhand trading platform listing offering a pregnant woman badge for sale was shared in a thread on a social networking service (SNS). The listing included a statement that the badge is "useful when using seats reserved for pregnant women."

The post was viewed more than 410,000 times, sparking widespread debate. The user who uploaded the post criticized, "Are they selling badges without even verifying pregnancy status?" Online, many voiced the opinion that "trading pregnant woman badges itself should be prohibited." Some users also claimed, "I've seen cases where the badge was actually sold for money on secondhand platforms."

A pregnant woman badge can be obtained for free at health centers, among other places, after submitting a pregnancy confirmation certificate verified at a hospital. In certain areas, badges are also distributed at subway station offices. Anyone who qualifies as a pregnant woman is eligible to receive one.

Pregnant Woman Badge. Social Networking Service (SNS) Screenshot

The core issue is the potential for improper use to gain various preferential benefits. Apart from reserved public transport seating, pregnant women are eligible for priority check-in and boarding services at some airlines and at Incheon International Airport, and some hotel buffets and restaurants provide discounts or priority entry. In most cases, additional proof such as a maternity handbook is required, but in some instances, benefits can reportedly be accessed with just the badge.

In fact, in 2024, 'Sungsimdang,' a famous bakery in Daejeon, changed its policy to require further documentation like a maternity handbook after abuse was reported during operation of its discount and priority entry services for pregnant women.

Last April, a company producing the pregnant woman badge also posted on its website that there had been several reports of badges being sold at high prices on secondhand platforms, or being abused as a 'free pass' for popular restaurants and public transportation. The company stated, "We do not sell to individuals."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare acknowledges some cases of improper use, but holds the position that recalls are not realistically feasible. A representative from the Ministry’s Birth Policy Division told Yonhap News, "The cost of collecting the badges would exceed their production cost, so it is not practically possible," adding, "The pregnant woman badge system is based on voluntary consideration and mature civic consciousness among citizens."

Legally, there is no clear basis for punishing the act of trading badges itself. However, experts point out that when a non-pregnant person presents a badge to receive benefits by pretending to be pregnant, such conduct may constitute fraud, obstruction of work, or the unauthorized use of official identification marks, depending on the circumstances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.