Only 58 Overseas Adoptees Last Year... Down 82% from Five Years Ago

Sixteen Honorees Recognized on May 10 for Adoption Day
Seventy-One Percent of 58 Overseas Adoptees Sent to the United States

Last year, the number of overseas adoptions was 58, representing a sharp decline of 82% compared to five years ago. This decrease is attributed to prioritizing domestic adoption over overseas adoption. Starting in July this year, as the adoption procedures and management authorities change to make the state responsible for the adoption system, overseas adoptions are likely to decrease even further.

On May 9, Yonhap News quoted the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reporting that the total number of adoptions approved by the court last year was 212, with 154 domestic adoptions and 58 overseas adoptions. Domestic adoptions increased by 4 compared to the previous year, while overseas adoptions decreased by 21. In 2019, five years ago, overseas adoptions accounted for 45% of the total 704 adoptions, but last year this figure fell to 27.4%. Among countries receiving overseas adoptions last year, the United States accounted for the largest share at 70.7%, followed by Australia (8.6%) and Canada (6.9%).

Last year, the number of overseas adoptions dropped sharply by 82% compared to five years ago, totaling 58 cases. This is thanks to prioritizing domestic adoption over overseas adoption. Starting from July this year, with changes in adoption procedures and management authorities to make the state responsible for the adoption system, overseas adoptions are likely to decrease even further. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

For domestic adoptions, the proportion of girls was slightly higher at 50.6%. By age, the proportions of children under one year old and those between one and under three years old were the same (46.1%), while those aged three or older accounted for only 7.8%. For overseas adoptions, boys made up 72.4% of cases, and by age, children between one and under three years old accounted for the overwhelming majority at 96.6%. The most common reason for children becoming available for adoption was being born to unmarried parents (81.1%), followed by abandoned children (16.5%). Until now, adoptions have been handled by private organizations, but starting in July, the system will be reorganized into a public adoption system.

First, local governments will only designate a child as eligible for adoption and proceed with the adoption process if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child. For international adoptions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Adoption Policy Committee) will make the decision, following the procedures of the Hague Convention. The country of origin of the child will review the child's eligibility for adoption, while the receiving country will review the adoptive parents' eligibility; both countries will mutually guarantee these qualifications, and the country of origin will grant final approval for the adoption. Even after adoption, to ensure that adoptees can find their birth parents, the management of adoption records and disclosure of adoption-related information will be unified under the National Center for the Rights of the Child.

Meanwhile, to mark the 20th Adoption Day, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Center for the Rights of the Child will hold the "2025 20th Adoption Day Commemorative Event" on May 10 at the Gwanggaeto Convention Hall of Sejong University in Seoul. At the award ceremony for distinguished contributors, 16 individuals who have protected the rights and interests of adoptees and adoptive families and contributed to improving perceptions of adoption will receive presidential, prime ministerial, and ministerial commendations. Yoo Jaehoon, president of the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, who will receive the presidential commendation, has contributed to establishing the identity and protecting the rights of overseas adoptees by serving for 12 years as a volunteer, chairman, and honorary advisor at the overseas adoptee solidarity public interest corporation.

Kim Sejin, a manager at Smilegate Holdings and a recipient of the presidential commendation, is an adoptee born with a severe congenital disability without both legs. Through activities such as serving as a national representative swimmer for people with disabilities, appearing on TV programs, and being featured in textbooks, Kim has contributed to improving perceptions of adopting children with disabilities. The Prime Minister's commendation will be awarded to Cha Eunyoung, a volunteer who has supported interpretation and letter translation for reunions between overseas adoptees and their birth families; Lee Seunghee, a foster mother at the Korea Social Welfare Society who has cared for 23 children safely and healthily; Lee Boram, a teacher at Jingun Middle School who has practiced adoption and, as a special education teacher, has served as a pre-adoptive parent education instructor; and Lee Eunjung, head of Holt Children's Services, who has worked on pre-adoptive parent counseling and domestic adoption services for children. Ten distinguished contributors, including Bang Euna, CEO of MEI, who as a domestic adoptee adopted a third child, will receive commendations from the Minister of Health and Welfare.