[Summary] Controversy Over President Moon's Remark "Changing Adopted Children"... Flood of Criticism Demanding Apology

President Moon Jae-in's New Year's Press Conference Remarks Controversy
"Adoption Is Not Shopping. Apologize" Blue House National Petition Also Raised

President Moon Jae-in is answering a reporter's question at the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House Chunuchu-gwan on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] On the 18th, President Moon Jae-in mentioned the so-called 'Jung-in case,' in which an adopted child died due to abuse by adoptive parents, during his New Year's press conference, stating, "There is a need for measures that allow adoption to be canceled or for adopted children to be changed," sparking controversy.

Organizations related to adopted children have raised their voices in criticism, saying, "If the voices from the field had been heard, such measures would never have been proposed." While petitions demanding an apology from President Moon have emerged, opposition parties have strongly criticized the remarks as "a dangerous idea that does not consider children's human rights." As criticism intensified, the Blue House stepped in to clarify, saying, "The intention is to activate the management and support of the adoption system."

During the explanation of measures to prevent the recurrence of the 'Jung-in case,' President Moon said, "Since adoptive parents' feelings can change, within a certain period, adoption can be canceled again, or if the desire to adopt remains strong but the child and parents do not match, the adopted child can be changed," adding, "I think measures are needed to protect adopted children while activating adoption itself in various ways without shrinking it." This appeared to suggest 'disruption of adoption' as part of the solution. Ultimately, concerns arose that it could be interpreted as meaning that adopted children can be easily replaced or returned.

On the 18th, a petition titled "An Apology Should Be Made to Children Waiting for Adoption and Their Foster Parents" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition website capture

Immediately after the press conference, a post titled 'An Apology Is Needed to Children Waiting for Adoption and Their Adoptive Parents' was uploaded on the Blue House's national petition board. The petitioner said, "I was horrified after watching President Moon's New Year's press conference today," criticizing the president's remarks as "truly frightening words."

They further pointed out, "The focus should be on the fact that Jung-in's adoptive parents are murderers rather than adoptive parents."

Reactions from related organizations also followed. Single-parent, child, and adoption organizations such as the International Child Rights Center, Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, Moms Making Politics, and Korea Single Mothers Support Network held a press conference to criticize President Moon's remarks.

Choi Hyungsook, CEO of the single mothers' organization 'In Tree,' said at a press conference held in front of the Blue House fountain in the afternoon, "A child is not an object. Even companion dogs are not adopted like this," criticizing, "If the voices from the field had been heard, such measures would never have been proposed."

Jeon Youngsoon, president of the Korea Single Parents Union, pointed out, "Saying that if you don't like the child, you can change or cancel the adoption is no different from adoption agencies treating children as commodities during the adoption process."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is speaking at the 'People’s Party-Korean Medical Association Meeting on COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Plan' held at the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism has also continued in the political sphere. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, wrote on his Facebook on the same day, "Disruption or replacement will obviously be used as tools to justify negative behavior by adoptive parents. It is emotional neglect and abuse of the child itself," criticizing the remarks.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won also urged on her Facebook, "The greatest wound and trial for adopted children is when even their adoptive parents abandon them," and demanded, "President Moon made a serious gaffe. He should immediately retract and apologize."

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also called the remarks "truly inappropriate," stating, "The Jung-in case is a child abuse issue. We need to face the essence and seriousness of the case to come up with effective measures, which is regrettable."

As the controversy continued, the Blue House quickly moved to contain it. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said, "The president's intention is to supplement the adoption system to activate adoption," adding, "It is intended to improve the 'pre-foster care' system, which is conventionally used with the consent of adoptive parents before adoption is finalized." Kang emphasized, "France, the UK, and Sweden legally implement the pre-foster care system."