Korean Intercountry Adoption History: Culture, Practice, and Implications

Abstract

Large-scale intercountry adoption emerged in a humanitarian crisis following the Korean War. With the growing demand in the United States for, and a steady supply of, adoptable South Korean children, as well as the limited government regulations, it has become permanent practice. Over the years, concerns were raised about unethical adoption practices. To address this issue, limited attempts have been made to promote in-country adoption and include birth mothers' perspectives in reformed adoption policies. However, these efforts have failed to bring about significant changes. The purpose of this article is to examine factors that influence intercountry adoption between the United States and South Korea and to discuss the challenges faced by South Korean birth mothers. Practice implications are also elucidated.

Beyond Borders and Biology: Lisa Myeong-Joo’s Self-Portrait of a Circle (2016)

“…From 1953 to 2010 Korea sent out more than 170,000 South Korean children (about 18 percent of the 950,000 global adoptions). 11 Though there has been more than thirty years of South Korean intercountry adoption in Australia, the system and its repercussions on individuals remain significantly understudied. In her article "Monetary Flows and the Movements of Children," Kimberly McKee has analyzed the history of Korean adoption, arguing that governments, adoption agencies, various state policies and regulations work in tandem to create what she calls the transnational adoption industrial complex, a "multimillion dollar industry spanning the globe."…”

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“…In terms of intercountry adoption, the United States has been the largest recipient of adoptees from other countries since 1970 (Selman, 2002). The majority of these children are from Eastern countries, with most coming from Asia, particularly from South Korea and China (Ma, 2017; Selman, 2009). South Korea remained the top “sending” country to the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s (Selman, 2002).…”