South Korea’s President Issues Apology for Adoption Program Abuses

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung issued a formal apology on October 5, 2023, regarding the mismanagement of foreign adoption programs that have been associated with numerous abuses and fraudulent practices. This apology follows the findings of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which acknowledged state complicity in these issues for the first time.

In a post on social media, President Lee expressed his “heartfelt apology and words of comfort” to South Koreans adopted abroad, as well as to their adoptive and birth families. He highlighted the emotional toll on adoptees, stating that he feels “heavy-hearted” when considering the “anxiety, pain and confusion” they experienced when sent overseas as children. Lee emphasized the need for government officials to create systems that protect the human rights of adoptees and assist them in locating their birth parents.

Government Accountability and Past Abuses

Recent reports, including a landmark conclusion by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in March 2024, revealed that the South Korean government played a significant role in facilitating adoption programs driven more by cost-cutting measures than by the welfare of children. This investigation, which spanned nearly three years, was prompted by complaints from 367 adoptees located in Europe, the United States, and Australia.

During the peak years of the 1970s and 1980s, South Korea permitted the adoption of thousands of children each year. Many of these children later discovered that their records had been falsified, misrepresenting their circumstances as abandoned or orphaned. There are also documented cases of children being removed from their families without proper consent, or even being stolen. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings align with a detailed investigation conducted by the Associated Press in collaboration with Frontline (PBS), which examined the coordinated efforts of South Korean governments, Western nations, and adoption agencies to place around 200,000 Korean children with families abroad, despite long-standing evidence of unethical practices.

International Response and Future Steps

The South Korean government has faced increasing pressure to address the systemic fraud and abuse that has been part of its adoption programs. In response, the country ratified the Hague Adoption Convention in July 2023, an international treaty aimed at ensuring ethical standards in international adoptions. This treaty officially took effect in South Korea on October 4, 2023.

As President Lee continues to address this sensitive issue, the focus remains on creating a framework that prioritizes the rights and well-being of adoptees. His administration’s acknowledgment of past failures marks a significant step towards healing and reform in South Korea’s adoption landscape, a subject that has long been overshadowed by allegations of wrongdoing.