[Editor's Pick] Secret Underground Lab in Chinese Residential Area: The Shocking Reality Behind 'Tight Security'

A secret business offering illegal in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures and surrogacy services has been uncovered in an ordinary residential neighborhood in China.

Victims—infertile women who sought help—are reporting that instead of achieving pregnancy, they have been left with serious health complications.

A 44-year-old woman, identified by her surname Zhang, sought out an IVF service she found through social media advertisements after multiple failed attempts to conceive.

The agency claimed that for 30 million won (approximately $22,000 USD), she could select an egg donor of her choice, which would then be fertilized with her husband's sperm and implanted.

They further claimed that the procedure could ensure the gender of the fetus and screen for genetic diseases.

[Agency Representative: You can choose the style you prefer. It’s better for the child's height if the (egg donor) is over 160cm tall.]

The agency explained that for an additional 170 million won (approximately $125,000 USD), surrogacy services were also available.

[Agency Representative: If it’s not successful, we provide a full refund. Once implanted, it almost always succeeds immediately.]

On the day of the procedure, after going through rigorous security protocols, the patient was taken to an underground laboratory.

[Zhang / Victim: When my husband asked if he could go, they said no. They also said we couldn't bring our mobile phones.]

The procedure was carried out rapidly without any preliminary medical examinations.

[Zhang / Victim: It didn't even take two minutes for them to tell me the procedure was finished.]

Despite two attempts, the pregnancy failed, and instead of receiving a refund, Zhang ended up with health issues she did not have before, such as uterine fibroids.

Zhang reported the business to the authorities. When officials arrived for an on-site investigation, the agency staff reacted violently, even assaulting the accompanying reporters.

[Don't touch me! Get out!]

The investigation revealed numerous embryo samples labeled with the names and phone numbers of clients.

Like in South Korea, the sale of embryos and surrogacy are illegal in China.

These practices can lead to criminal prosecution as they involve violations of women's health rights, child trafficking, and fraudulent birth registrations.

However, due to rising infertility rates and the high profits sought by these businesses, the roots of the illegal pregnancy black market in China remain difficult to eradicate.

"Gender Selection for 30 Million Won".. Illegal Procedures Surge Amid Rising Infertility (June 8, 2026, D-Report)

Reported by Kwon Ran | Video by Choi Deok-hyun | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.