Controversy Over President Moon's Adoption Remarks... Hong Ik-pyo Considers Mandatory 6-Month Pre-Foster Care System

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Hong Ik-pyo, the Policy Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 19th regarding the controversial remark by President Moon Jae-in about ‘switching adopted children’ that “the true intention seems not to have been conveyed” and added, “We will consider making the pre-foster care system mandatory before adoption.”

Hong Ik-pyo, head of the Inequality Resolution Task Force, is delivering opening remarks at the 1st meeting of the Post-Corona Inequality Resolution Task Force held on the 15th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

At the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Chairman Hong said, “Although the Blue House explained yesterday, there was a part of President Moon’s remarks where the true intention was not conveyed. That is the unfamiliar protection system called the pre-foster care system.”

He explained, “This system involves placing a prospective adopted child with a prospective adoptive family for about six months before adoption to monitor, provide post-management and evaluation, thereby supporting protection as well as stable adoption.”

He added, “In Korea, this is conventionally allowed only with the consent of both adoptive parents, but we will actively consider making it a mandatory procedure before adoption.”