{"id":2203999,"date":"2024-02-28T17:05:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T08:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203999"},"modified":"2024-02-29T16:42:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T07:42:34","slug":"south-koreas-adoption-scandal-unveils-harrowing-realities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/south-koreas-adoption-scandal-unveils-harrowing-realities\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s adoption scandal unveils harrowing realities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bill Vorhees, formerly known as Lee Jung-won, and his involuntary journey from South Korea to an adoptive family in the U.S. underscores the profound risks inherent in international adoption practices: the personal trauma endured by adoptees and the pervasive illegal and unethical adoption practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

At just 7 years old, Vorhees\u2019 life was irrevocably altered in <\/span>1976<\/span><\/a> when he was snatched from his mother. His abductors subsequently handed him over to Holt Children’s Services, a South Korean adoption agency, which falsely designated him as an orphan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vorhees was then adopted by a single U.S. man, who subjected him to abuse and sexual violence upon his arrival in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vorhees\u2019 experience is not isolated but shared by hundreds of adoptees, each grappling with their own harrowing pasts and the mysteries of their origins.<\/span><\/p>\n

The concerted efforts of advocacy groups, such as the Danish Korean Rights Group (DKRG), have brought these issues to the forefront, demanding attention and action from South Korean authorities. Their efforts have prompted the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Korea to initiate investigations into over 300 cases by <\/span>Dec. 2022<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The collective stories of adoptees like Vorhees reveal the critical flaws in South Korea\u2019s adoption framework, characterized by a lack of regulation and oversight. Experts and activists told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that legislative and procedural changes are urgently needed to address these shortcomings and ensure the protection and proper care of children in the adoption process.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Bill Vorhees, formerly known as Lee Jung-won, a South Korea-born adoptee | Image: Danish Korean Rights Group, edited by Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

SYSTEMATIC FAILURE<\/b><\/p>\n

The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs, through an <\/span>investigative report<\/span><\/a> published in Jan. 2024, shed light on a disturbing pattern of illegal adoption practices by Danish and South Korean agencies during the 1970s and 1980s.<\/span><\/p>\n

This report, emphasizing the manipulation of adoptee identities and documentation, echoed the experiences of many like Vorhees, who were relocated to homes under questionable circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report disclosed that, over two decades, there were widespread instances where children\u2019s background information was altered to facilitate adoptions without the knowledge or consent of their biological families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This period also saw the emergence of an \u201cincentive structure\u201d that facilitated financial exchanges between the involved South Korean and Danish entities, ostensibly for the adoption processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peter Moller, a key figure in uncovering these practices through his role as a co-founder of the DKRG, explained the financial mechanisms underlying these adoptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

He outlined how agreements between the adoption agencies of the two countries resembled supply contracts, with a set number of children being \u201cordered\u201d by Danish agencies from their Korean counterparts each month at fixed prices.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fees charged for each child \u2014 $9,000 by the Korean Social Service (KSS) and $12,000 by Holt \u2014 highlight the profit motive embedded within what were purportedly humanitarian transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report also uncovered internal communications among agencies, which indicated that what was presented as donations for facilitating adoptions essentially served as payments for access to Korean children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that South Korea\u2019s approach to overseas adoptions has significant shortcomings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe essence of the adoption agency\u2019s role lies in finding well-prepared adoptive parents who can provide a nurturing environment for children in need,\u201d Helen Noh, a professor at Soongsil University\u2019s Social Welfare Department, noted.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Noh explained that the preference for adopting out healthier and younger children, often internationally over domestically, underscores a deviation from this goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noh highlighted the disparities between adoption processes in South Korea and other countries, stressing that flaws within the system have led to adoptees being matched with unstable families. She stressed the urgent need for adoption agents in South Korea to undergo enhanced education and training to effectively carry out their responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The expert outlined that for recipient countries, the adoption process is managed by public institutions, while South Korea\u2019s private adoption agencies have handled most of the core adoption operations, including carrying out assessments of prospective parents and their suitability for adoption.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProfessionalism and intensive training on the adoption process within [South Korea\u2019s] agencies are not well-maintained, allowing children to be mistakenly put into unstable homes due to unprofessional matching,\u201d Noh said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Case documents of adoptee applicants gathered by the Danish Korean Rights Group (DKRG) (left), DKRG co-founder and Danish adoptee Peter Moller stands with a letter certifying the submission of investigation requests to Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Aug. 2022 (right) | Image: Danish Korean Rights Group<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite the significant challenges and critiques leveled against its international adoption practices, South Korea has made efforts to address and reform its adoption system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a governmental probe in 2008, which highlighted various deficiencies in the country\u2019s adoption process, lawmakers have taken steps since 2013 to rectify these issues through legislative amendments.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Aug. 2012<\/span><\/a>, the country enacted an amendment to its <\/span>Special Adoption Act<\/span><\/a>. This revision introduced a requirement for prospective adoptive parents to obtain approval from a family court, a process that mandated the submission of legal documents and formal permission for adoption, marking a move toward greater oversight and regulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Subsequent amendments have continued to target the malpractices previously endemic within the system. By <\/span>June 2021<\/span><\/a>, local governments were empowered with new responsibilities for counseling biological parents, further embedding safeguards into the adoption process.<\/span><\/p>\n

More recently, in <\/span>June 2023<\/span><\/a>, the National Assembly passed additional revisions to the existing adoption laws, slated to take effect in June 2025. These changes are intended to enhance the role of the government in the adoption process, particularly by positioning the welfare ministry as the central authority for regulating international adoptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

This shift aims to align South Korea’s practices with international conventions and standards, ensuring a more ethical and responsible approach to adoption.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe hope is that the public sector will be able to facilitate the adoption processes with professionalism. The law has been amended in that direction, and we have to see whether it will materialize. I hope that the practice of sending children for international adoption for the benefit of any organization will cease,\u201d Noh of Soongsil University told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Helen Noh, Soongsil University professor (fourth from left) and DKRG co-founder Peter Moller (second from right) sit as panelists at a symposium held at the National Assembly on the overseas adoption human rights situation and measures for human rights protection, Feb. 2022. | Image: Danish Korean Rights Group<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

SEEKING THE TRUTH<\/b><\/p>\n

Park Young-il, a spokesperson for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, updated <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> on the status of investigations into the international adoption practices between South Korea and Denmark.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Feb. 2024, the commission had received a total of 376 cases, with a few being withdrawn by the applicants, leaving 362 cases still under scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

The commission had previously announced in <\/span>July 2023<\/span><\/a> the commencement of investigations targeting four South Korean adoption agencies, including Holt Children\u2019s Services and the KSS, which were implicated in facilitating over 300 adoptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Park informed <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that these agencies are cooperating with the commission\u2019s efforts to review the provided data.<\/span><\/p>\n

When <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> reached out to Holt Children\u2019s Services and the KSS for a comment on the matter, they remained silent on the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moller of DKRG highlighted the contrast in transparency and responsiveness between Danish and South Korean agencies, with the latter showing less openness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that the truth is catching up with them. In the end, there\u2019s a question for these agencies \u2013 which side of history they want to be on when this is over,\u201d Moller said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Moller also commended the South Korean government\u2019s proactive stance in these investigations, noting that \u201cmany of the adoptees are very proud of South Korea\u2019s leadership in these investigations. It takes a lot of courage to look into the bad things in your own history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He called on the Danish government to intensify its efforts in uncovering the truth and emulating South Korea\u2019s initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Park of the Truth Commission informed <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that the South Korean government has granted an additional year to thoroughly analyze the cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe initially anticipated an announcement of our findings in the first half of 2024, but it might extend to the latter half based on the current extension,\u201d Park said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moller, alongside Vorhees and many other adoptees, remains hopeful for a resolution that will shed light on their pasts, eagerly awaiting the outcomes of the commission\u2019s investigations to fill the gaps in their understanding of their origins and experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Culture & Society<\/span><\/a>Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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At just 7 years old, Vorhees\u2019 life was irrevocably altered in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10909,"featured_media":2204016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[25,28],"class_list":["post-2203999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-culture-society","tag-inter-korean-foreign-relations"],"yoast_head":"\nSouth Korea\u2019s adoption scandal unveils harrowing realities - Korea Pro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/south-koreas-adoption-scandal-unveils-harrowing-realities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"South Korea\u2019s adoption scandal unveils harrowing realities - Korea Pro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bill Vorhees, formerly known as Lee Jung-won, and his involuntary journey from South Korea to an adoptive family in the U.S. underscores the profound risks inherent in international adoption practices: the personal trauma endured by adoptees and the pervasive illegal and unethical adoption practices. 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