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South Korea admits responsibility for abusive adoptions abroad
For the first time in its history, South Korea has officially acknowledged its responsibility in the abusive international adoptions that sent tens of thousands of children abroad through fraudulent practices over several decades.
President Lee Jae-myung issued a formal apology on Thursday, calling the state’s past actions a failure to protect children and families. “On behalf of the Republic of Korea, I extend my sincere apologies and words of comfort to adoptees, their families, and their biological relatives who have endured suffering,” he said in a statement.
Between 1955 and 1999, more than 140,000 South Korean children were sent abroad for adoption, many through falsified documents and manipulated identities. These practices were confirmed earlier this year by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which concluded after a two-year investigation that legal consent from biological parents was often ignored.
International adoption from South Korea began in the aftermath of the Korean War (1950–1953), initially targeting mixed-race children in a society that emphasized ethnic homogeneity. Over time, it grew into one of the largest adoption programs in the world, shaping the lives of countless adoptees and families.
This unprecedented apology marks a turning point in acknowledging the trauma caused and may open the door for renewed dialogue on justice and reconciliation for affected individuals.