Illegal Surrogacy Thrives in China, Ukraine Debates Pornography Legalization

These facilities were found to operate beyond simple brokerage offices, equipped with operating rooms and embryo incubators, effectively functioning as 'underground infertility clinics'.

Records showed evidence of regular procedures, revealing a systematically operated investment structure where facility operators and medical staff shared profits.

The cost of illegal surrogacy varies by agency but is reportedly between 150 million and 190 million won per child. Prices differ based on options such as gender selection, and payments are made in installments at each stage, including pregnancy confirmation, heartbeat confirmation, and birth.

The remaining profits are distributed among the brokerage agency and the medical staff involved in the procedures.

Even when detected operations are closed, demand persists, leading to reopening elsewhere and increased secrecy by hiding operating rooms and embryo incubators within ordinary buildings.

In the U.S., some states like California recognize commercial surrogacy contracts, while the UK and Canada prohibit commercial surrogacy and only restrictively permit altruistic surrogacy. India recently strengthened regulations, prohibiting commercial surrogacy for foreigners and allowing only non-commercial methods for its citizens.

The Chinese government continues to maintain a firm opposition to surrogacy. The main reasons cited are that surrogacy infringes upon women's health and rights, and can commodify women's bodies. Concerns are also raised about physical exploitation due to economic inequality and the potential for complex social conflicts regarding legal parental relationships and household registration.

This reveals a clash of values regarding the commodification of pregnancy and childbirth, with cases of selective surrogacy used not only for infertility but also for specific purposes like gender selection by the wealthy.

Canada aims for an associate member model that enjoys single market benefits without the burdens of full membership.

They aim for free exchange of businesses, investments, and skilled professionals, with specific projects underway like the joint German-Norwegian submarine acquisition and new gas pipeline construction. This is also interpreted as part of building digital infrastructure to reduce dependence on U.S. big tech.

Prime Minister Carney, an economic expert who served as Governor of the Bank of Canada and the first foreign Governor of the Bank of England, is aware of the risks of a dollar-centric financial system. Anti-American sentiment in Canada rallied after former U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that 'Canada is the 51st state of the United States.' Prime Minister Carney is leveraging this atmosphere to emphasize Canada's independent identity and consolidate domestic support.

For Canada to enjoy EU market benefits, the extent to which it accepts EU regulations and bears costs could be contentious. Opposition is expected from regions sensitive to autonomy, such as Quebec and Alberta, and some raise suspicions that this initiative could be used as leverage for tariff negotiations with the United States.

The first watershed moment for Canada's EU associate membership initiative is expected on the 16th. Three days later, Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to deliver a direct address to the European Parliament, a symbolic event that will be a significant diplomatic occasion for a Canadian Prime Minister. In the past, Canadian Prime Ministers' speeches to the European Parliament have only occurred during key diplomatic issues such as FTA agreements.

As of 2023, there are 7,900 OnlyFans users, with their estimated earnings at approximately 180 billion won, indicating a thriving industry despite its illegality.

In Ukraine, reporting OnlyFans earnings ironically amounts to confessing to illegal production, leading to police investigations. There's a paradoxical situation where models are subject to police investigation. Indeed, one OnlyFans model, Dvornikova, experienced a home search and cash seizure after reporting her income.

Since pornography production is a crime, police frequently investigate producers or conduct raids. However, there are suspicions that these police powers are being abused as a means to extort money, and the Ukrainian prosecutor's office has already uncovered corruption involving police in three regions.

Major Western countries like the U.S., UK, and Germany do not uniformly treat all pornography as illegal. These countries mostly regulate by distinguishing between permissible adult content and criminal content. Specifically, crimes such as underage involvement and distribution without consent are strongly punished, and access by minors is prevented through mandatory age verification.

OnlyFans model Dvornikova recently filed a petition to President Zelensky asking for the easing of pornography-related regulations. The petition garnered over 25,000 consents, meeting the threshold for a presidential response, and President Zelensky consequently instructed parliament to review the relevant bill.