A recent investigation by the independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission has exposed decades of human rights violations by the South Korean government concerning the adoption of children. This troubling report reveals that at least 170,000 children, including infants, were sent abroad under exploitative conditions, led by profit-driven private agencies without adequate governmental oversight.
Since the 1950s, South Korea has maintained a notorious reputation for exporting more children for adoption than any other nation, with many being placed in Western homes. Despite the tightening of adoption regulations, many adoptees and their biological families continue to grapple with the lingering effects of these flawed processes. “While many adoptees were fortunate to grow up in loving families, there were also those who suffered great hardship and trauma due to improper adoption processes. Even today, many continue to face problems,” remarked commission chairwoman Park Sang Yeon.
Since 2022, 367 individuals who were adopted from 1964 to 1999 have petitioned the commission, raising serious allegations of fraud in their adoption processes. Out of roughly 100 applications evaluated, 56 adoptees have been acknowledged as victims of human rights violations. Following the Korean War, the country was impoverished, leading to the launch of an international adoption programme managed by private agencies endowed with extensive powers.
However, the commission’s findings underline the severe inadequacies in the regulatory system, which enabled these agencies to exploit both biological parents and children. Monthly quotas from international agencies drove Korean agencies to comply, often with little regard for ethical practices. High adoption fees and demands for “charitable contributions” turned the process into a lucrative venture. Moreover, many adoptions lacked proper parental consent, and questionable vetting of adoptive parents was rampant, often accompanied by fraudulent reports of abandoned children. The commission has urged the government to formally apologise and commit to international standards in transnational adoptions.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s investigation unveils decades of human rights violations in South Korea’s international adoption programme, where at least 170,000 children were adopted under exploitative conditions by profit-driven agencies. Despite recent regulatory changes, many adoptees continue to suffer from these injustices. The commission calls for a government apology and adherence to international adoption standards.
The investigation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission highlights a dark chapter in South Korea’s approach to international adoptions, revealing systemic abuses in the process. With 367 petitions illustrating a legacy of trauma and exploitation, the need for a genuine governmental acknowledgment and reform is paramount. By aligning with global practices, South Korea can begin to repair the injustices faced by countless adoptees and their families.
Original Source: babel.ua
