'Adoption Cancellation' Remarks by Moon... Blue House "Referred to Pre-Protection Foster Care"
Civilians "Deviates from the Essence of Child Abuse"
Opposition "If It Was a Slip of the Tongue, Apologize" Urges
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 Kang Juhee] Amid growing criticism over President Moon Jae-in's remarks on 'adoption cancellation' related to the 'Jung In case,' the Blue House clarified on the 18th that the comments were made with the intention of supplementing the adoption system by considering the 'pre-foster care system.'
However, despite this explanation from the Blue House, voices of criticism are growing louder. Critics argue that the focus is misplaced on 'post-adoption management' rather than preventive measures against the core issue of the Jung In case, which is 'child abuse,' indicating a misunderstanding of the matter's essence.
At the New Year's press conference that day, President Moon responded to a question about whether there is a solution to break the vicious cycle of child abuse by saying, "Since adoptive parents' feelings can change, it is necessary to have measures that allow for adoption cancellation within a certain period, or if the desire to adopt is strong but the child and parents do not match, to change the adopted child, among other ways to protect adopted children while activating adoption without discouraging it."
In response to criticism such as "Are you suggesting that children be canceled or returned like goods?" Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok explained in a briefing that day, "The pre-foster care system was mentioned with the intention of activating the management and support of adoption."
As criticism of President Moon's remarks did not subside, Kang further rebutted in an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 19th, stating, "The intention of (President Moon's remarks) has been significantly distorted."
However, when the interviewer asked, "That system (pre-foster care system) focuses not on the child but on whether prospective adoptive parents are qualified. Doesn't this indicate a misunderstanding by the president?" Kang only responded, "There is a strong misunderstanding, but the president has no consciousness of child returns," without providing a clear answer to the question.
On the 19th, the National Adoption Family Solidarity held a press conference criticizing the Blue House's explanation that it would consider the "pre-foster care system" in response to President Moon Jae-in's mention of "cancellation or replacement of adopted children" as a measure to prevent child abuse, calling it "a secondary harm to prospective adoptive parents." Photo by Yonhap News
Criticism is intensifying in response to the Blue House's explanation. The National Adoption Family Solidarity held a press conference in front of the National Assembly on the 19th, stating, "The Blue House explained that 'the president's suggestion of adoption cancellation as a solution to the Jung In case is intended to supplement the pre-foster care system,' but if they had accurately understood the related system and considered the parties involved, such expressions would never have been made."
They added, "Most prospective adoptive parents under the pre-foster care system form stable relationships with the children and live together. No parent treats their child as something to be canceled or replaced," emphasizing the point.
Political circles also criticized the Blue House's explanation. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement on the 18th, saying, "President Moon and the Blue House still do not understand the essence of the child abuse death case," and criticized, "Approaching the child abuse issue solely as adoption management is neither appropriate to the essence nor effective, only exposing limitations." She further stated, "No matter how much they try to recover the situation with examples from other countries found in half a day, it cannot change the president's empathy."
Kim Mi-ae, a lawmaker from the same party, also criticized in an interview on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Starting Morning' on the 20th, saying, "Measures should focus on eradicating child abuse, so why are adoption measures being brought up? Adoption is not perfect and needs improvement, but this should be discussed separately."
As an adoptive mother herself, Representative Kim said, "If adopted children hear those words, they might think, 'Will my parents replace me if they don't like me?' How painful that would be," and raised her voice, "As a lawyer, the president should have understood the meaning of adoption cancellation and child replacement. If it was a slip of the tongue, an apology is appropriate."
Sim Sang-jung, a lawmaker from the Justice Party, also criticized on her Facebook on the 19th, stating, "(President Moon's remarks) are highly inappropriate even considering the Blue House's explanation that they were made with the pre-foster care system in mind."
Meanwhile, despite such criticism, the government has decided to introduce a 'pre-adoption foster care system' that mandates prospective adoptive parents and children to live together for 5 to 6 months before adoption.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 19th at the 1st Social Relations Ministers' Meeting that it had finalized the 'Child Abuse Response System Strengthening Plan,' which includes this measure. The pre-adoption foster care system allows adopted children to live with prospective adoptive parents until the family court grants adoption approval.
Currently, this is only practiced as a custom without legal basis. However, some argue that while the purpose of the law and system is good, the government is rushing to legislate without thorough review to manage the fallout from President Moon's adoption cancellation remarks.
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