Western Demand Led to Alleged Child Abductions in South Korean Adoptions

Many South Korean adoptees in Western countries are uncovering that their adoptions were based on fraudulent practices, with some believing they were stolen from their biological families. The article highlights the story of Yooree Kim, who at 11 was sent to France under the pretense of being an orphan, only to later discover her adoption documents were falsified. During the 1970s and 1980s, Western nations faced a shortage of adoptable babies due to increased access to birth control and abortion, leading to intense demand for children from abroad. South Korean adoption agencies, sometimes with government complicity, allegedly engaged in aggressive and unethical practices, including fabricating records and pressuring mothers to give up their children. Investigations in countries like France, the Netherlands, and Norway have revealed systemic issues, prompting some to halt international adoptions or issue apologies. While South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission is examining these practices, the United States has yet to fully address its role. The revelations are prompting a global reassessment of international adoption systems and their long-term impact on adoptees and their families.

Source: AP News