South Korea to End Private Adoptions After Shocking Findings

South Korea will conclude private adoptions on Saturday July 19th as a significant investigation unveiled serious problems in South Korea’s adoption system. This is a big change in policy to protect children and curb child abuse.

Truth Commission Uncovers Widespread Violations:

An official truth commission found severe flaws in South Korea’s international adoption system, which has been used for decades. According to the commission, over the years from 1955 to 1999, there were more than 140,000 children sent abroad often under suspicious circumstances. 

It also reported finding orphan registrations that were illegal, identity manipulation and a careless screening process for adoptive parents. The commission concluded that many children’s rights had been violated and found the government’s failure to regulate adoption fees turned it into a profitable business.

New Government-Led System Introduced:

In turn, the state is instituting a public adoption system. From now on, the adoption process will be taken on by local and state authorities, which, from now on, will undertake the entire process of adoption, including vetting and matching adoptive families with children. South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare says that the change is meant to ensure the safety and rights of adopted children, putting their interests first.

A History of Painful Stories:

The adoption process in South Korea can be traced back some 70 years ago, during the Korean War, which permitted mixed-race children (born to Korean women and American soldiers) to be sent outside of the country. By the 1970s, adoption had grown into a lucrative enterprise. Many children were taken without the proper consent from their birth parents, leading to painful separations and lost identities.

Activists and adoptees claim this is only the first step. They forward the suggestion for the government to provide an official apology, seek to support reunification and pay reparations.