An investigation by the Associated Press (AP) has revealed that for decades, Western governments actively pushed for the adoption of South Korean children, despite knowing that adoption agencies were pressuring mothers, competing for children, and bribing hospitals.
This has raised serious concerns about international adoption practices, as many adoptees have since discovered falsified adoption paperwork and are now seeking accountability.
The AP, working with PBS’s Frontline, interviewed over 80 adoptees in the US, Australia, and Europe. Documents obtained during the investigation show that children were sometimes kidnapped or switched, with families misled into believing their babies had died. This fraudulent practice affected children sent abroad from South Korea, upending the international adoption system.
South Korea’s international adoption program initially began following the Korean War, primarily involving children of Korean women and Western soldiers. However, it expanded to include children of single mothers and those from impoverished backgrounds. During this time, Western countries, where access to birth control and abortion had reduced the availability of adoptable children, eagerly sought Korean babies.
By 1974, South Korea attempted to halt adoptions to Scandinavia, but diplomatic pressure from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway reversed that decision. South Korean officials were concerned about damaging international relations, prompting them to continue adoptions to appease Western demands.
The United States played a pivotal role in creating the adoption system, largely due to Harry Holt, an evangelical Christian from Oregon, who believed it was his calling to help Korean orphans. Holt’s efforts resulted in the largest South Korean adoption agency, Holt International Children’s Services, which sent thousands of children to Western families.
Concerns over the integrity of the adoption process arose as early as the 1970s. Despite warnings from humanitarians about the competitive nature of adoption agencies, US officials continued to process visas for Korean children at a rapid rate. Adoption finalizations often lacked proper verification that the children were true orphans, leading to further complications.
Adoptee stories have prompted European governments to examine their involvement in international adoptions. Several countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, have halted or restricted foreign adoptions, while Switzerland issued an apology for failing to prevent illegal adoptions. France recently released a critical report on its own adoption history.
In contrast, the United States has yet to fully assess its role in the South Korean adoption system. A preliminary review by the US State Department found that falsified documentation may have been common, but there is no evidence yet that US officials were aware of it at the time.
