South Korea’s international adoptees seek justice, not homecoming

Thousands of South Koreans adopted by families overseas are demanding justice and accountability, moving beyond the notion of simply seeking a return to their birth country. While the South Korean government has acknowledged the systemic wrongs committed in its past international adoption practices, many adoptees and their advocates argue that these acknowledgments have not translated into meaningful action or reparations.

The issue stems from a period when South Korea, driven by post-war poverty and a desire to place children in stable homes, facilitated the adoption of tens of thousands of children by foreign families. Many of these adoptions, critics say, were carried out with questionable consent from birth parents and inadequate oversight, leading to adoptees growing up with fragmented identities and a lack of information about their origins.

Advocates emphasize that the focus is no longer solely on facilitating reunions or providing information about birth families. Instead, the growing movement seeks concrete steps from the government, including apologies that carry weight, investigations into unethical adoption practices, and measures to provide support and redress for the lifelong impact of these separations. The demand is for a comprehensive approach that addresses the historical injustices and ensures that such practices are never repeated.