An investigation conducted by The Associated Press revealed that South Korea, along with Western countries and adoption agencies, collaborated to send approximately 200,000 Korean children to parents overseas, despite suspicions of dubious or unethical practices. These adoptees have grown up and embarked on quests to uncover their origins, leading to revelations that challenge the international adoption industry.
Through interviews with over 80 adoptees across the U.S., Australia, and six European countries, alongside discussions with various individuals such as parents, agency personnel, humanitarian workers, and government officials, significant findings have emerged. Instances where children were abducted, parents were misled about the health of their newborns, and documents were falsified, resulting in emotional reunions between adoptees and supposed parents who were not biologically related, were among the distressing discoveries.
An official fact-finding commission is set to investigate the past actions of the South Korean government related to these adoptions, with the Health Ministry acknowledging a possible motive of reducing welfare spending during the surge in adoptions in the 1970s and 1980s. Adoption agencies have refrained from commenting on specific cases but have defended their practices as efforts to find foreign families for vulnerable children.
The roots of Korea’s adoption program can be traced back to post-Korean War times when children of unwed mothers and impoverished families were included in the program. Concerns about the adoption process were raised early, with records indicating suspicions around the assessment of agencies based on financial gain rather than child welfare standards. The aggressive tactics employed by adoption agencies to procure children, including payments to hospitals and maternity homes, have also been highlighted.
As the stories of adoptees like Robyn Joy Park, whose biological identity was switched with another person, shed light on the complexities of international adoptions, pressure mounts on South Korea to address the questionable and potentially fraudulent practices that occurred in the past. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has received requests for investigations from over 360 adoptees, underlining the need to uncover the truth behind these adoptions. While uncertainties surround the total number of questionable adoptions, advocates emphasize that many adoption stories do have positive outcomes.
