After more than two years of investigation, South Korea’s independent investigative body, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, released a report on the 26th saying that for a long time, the Korean government should be held accountable and formally apologize for human rights violations in the adoption of Korean children abroad, including the deliberate falsification of adoption records and the lack of full consent of the biological parents.
In 2022,375 South Koreans who were adopted by overseas families complained that their adoption documents were suspected of being forged, according to reports by the Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s joongang Ilbo and the Associated Press, asking South Korea to investigate. After examining the adoption records of 367 of the adoptees, “Truth Reconciliation Commission” in the Month 26 held a press conference announced the“Decision on the investigation of human rights violations in the process of overseas adoption of children in the truth” report. Between 1964 and 1999, at least 56 of the 367 children sent to 11 countries, including the United States, France, Denmark and Sweden, were involved in human rights abuses during their adoption, the report said.
According to the report, it has been proved that some Korean adoption agencies, in order to obtain financial benefits, do not follow legal adoption procedures and do not have the full consent of the biological parents, put some children up for adoption by overseas families disguised as orphans. The investigation also found that some other babies died before being sent overseas, and adoption agencies then sent other babies instead. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission showed a photograph from 1984 of a blanketed child strapped to an airplane seat and sent overseas, the title is“Children are sent overseas like luggage”.
Kim, who was adopted by a French family at the age of 13, burst into tears at the news conference. She said she had thought she was an abandoned child for 39 years because of falsification of adoption papers and government irresponsibility. Jin said: “I am not an orphan, but temporarily foster care in the orphanage.”. My mother never wrote an adoption consent form,” Jin said, kneeling on the ground. “We are victims of the state. Please re-evaluate the lifelong psychological toll this overseas adoption ’cause’ has taken on its victims.”
“Truth Reconciliation Commission,” said the Korean adoption agency in accordance with the requirements of foreign agencies, monthly distribution of children by number. “For nearly 50 years after the Korean War, the South Korean government has viewed intercountry adoption as a cost-effective alternative to enhancing domestic child welfare policies,” the agency said, accusing the government of failing to monitor the situation, it also failed to stop improper practices by adoption agencies.
In addition to recommending a formal apology, the TRC also called for a full investigation into the nationality of the adoptees and the adoption of appropriate policy measures based on the findings. It also recommended providing compensation to victims whose identities had been altered, ratifying the Hague Convention on adoption as soon as possible and ensuring that adoption agencies worked to restore the rights of adoptees. South Korea’s acting President’s office has not commented.
According to reports, South Korea is still the world’s largest“Baby exporter” one. As of 2023, nearly 170,000 South Korean children have been adopted overseas, according to official statistics. Overseas adoptions became big business in South Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, generating millions of dollars for adoption agencies as the country struggled with postwar poverty and a booming economy.