Initiated after the Korean War to remove mixed-heritage children from society, this programme has been condemned for violating fundamental human rights.
Published On 2 Oct 2025
South Korea’s leader has expressed regret over a controversial international adoption programme established in the aftermath of the 1950-53 Korean War, which uprooted over 14,000 children and placed them with families abroad, causing significant distress and uncertainty.
In a statement posted on Facebook, President Lee Jae-myung extended a sincere apology and offered solace to both the adoptees living overseas and their biological and adoptive families. This comes seven months after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that the adoption initiative infringed upon the rights of those adopted.
The commission’s inquiry, which gathered testimonies from 367 adoptees residing in Europe, the United States, and Australia, found the government complicit in unethical adoption procedures. These included fabricating documents to falsely classify children as abandoned and swapping identities to facilitate adoptions.
Reflecting on the emotional turmoil endured by these children, Lee conveyed his deep sorrow and urged government agencies to develop robust protections for adoptees’ rights and to assist them in reconnecting with their birth families.
The widespread practice of international adoption began as a response to societal pressures following the Korean War, particularly targeting children of mixed heritage born to Korean mothers and American soldiers. Between 1955 and 1999, more than 140,000 children were sent overseas, as the nation grappled with its emphasis on ethnic uniformity.
Even today, foreign adoptions persist, with an average of over 100 children annually-often infants born to single mothers facing social stigma in a conservative culture-being placed with families abroad throughout the 2020s.
After prolonged delays, South Korea officially ratified The Hague Adoption Convention in July, an international agreement designed to ensure ethical standards in cross-border adoptions. The treaty became effective in the country this past Wednesday.
Back in 1998, former President Kim Dae-jung issued an apology during a gathering with international adoptees, expressing heartfelt remorse and acknowledging the harm caused. However, he refrained from fully accepting governmental accountability for the systemic abuses that occurred over decades.
