In a landmark declaration, South Korea admitted to widespread malpractice within its adoption agencies, which included the falsification of documents to facilitate international adoptions of children, often misrepresented as orphans. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings brought to light a disturbing legacy where children were sent abroad for profit, often subjecting them to violations of their rights.
South Korea Acknowledges Adoption Scandals in Major Reconciliation Effort
South Korea Acknowledges Adoption Scandals in Major Reconciliation Effort
In a significant shift, South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission has acknowledged systemic adoption fraud that occurred for decades, deeply impacting intercountry adoptees.
The commission, led by chairwoman Sun-young Park, revealed that practices dating back to the post-Korean War era involved unethical actions like using the names of deceased infants for other living babies to ensure adoptions proceeded. The agency highlighted that four major adoption agencies had legal control over the children, allowing for their signing away under dubious circumstances. Recognizing the long-standing plight of South Korean adoptees who sought justice, the commission has called for the government to issue a formal apology and consider reparations. With around 200,000 South Korean children adopted internationally since 1953, the nation is now faced with confronting its history in order to heal and address the wrongs inflicted upon these individuals.
