Sayuri debunks sperm bank myths, shares experience of being single mother

By KTimes

Fujita Sayuri, 45, a well-known TV personality in Korea who is a Japanese national, recently shared her experience of becoming a mother through sperm donation abroad four years ago while also addressing common misconceptions about sperm banks.

Appearing on the YouTube channel Shilamyeon on Sunday, Sayuri shared details of her experience and said that all sperm donations are priced equally.

"Some ask, 'Is sperm from intelligent, handsome and well-educated men more expensive?' But the price is the same," she said. Sayuri clarified that sperm donors do not earn much from the process, receiving only enough to cover transportation costs.

Sayuri pointed out that equal pricing prevents the potential for "human trafficking," adding, "All donated sperm is equally valuable, and it's about contributing."

However, she said that costs might vary depending on transport and storage processes when receiving sperm from abroad, as each country has different donor requirements based on age and health.

Sayuri, who welcomed a son into the world in November 2020 after receiving a donation from a Western donor, revealed that her decision stemmed from a desire to have a child before it was too late.

"I was 41, and it felt like my last chance. I really wanted a child," she said. "When I was younger, I didn't consider being a single mother. I thought the ideal would be to marry and have a child with a good partner, but that option wasn't available to me, so I opted for IVF."

When asked if she was curious about her son's biological father, Sayuri said, "Yes, I am curious." She added that she has a childhood photo of the donor and noted some similarities between him and her son: "Their eyes are a bit different, but their faces and hair are similar."

Challenges as non-Korean

Sayuri also shared the challenges she faces as a non-Korean raising her son in Korea. She said that unlike Korean citizens who pay around 200,000 won ($150) per month for daycare, she must pay 600,000 won because of her foreigner status.

When host Kim Soo-yong suggested that she consider becoming a Korean citizen, Sayuri humorously replied, "I'd probably fail the citizenship test. I failed the written driver's test 20 times, and my IQ is 84, borderline."

In a lighthearted exchange, Kim teased that her score was "higher than expected," to which Sayuri quipped, "Well, it's higher than a dolphin's."

According to Statistics Korea's 2023 Birth Statistics, non-marital births in Korea reached a record high last year, making up nearly 5 percent of all births. Out of total newborns, 10,900 were born outside of marriage, representing 4.7 percent.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.