MOHW Press Release, March 13th, 2025
(Korea Time) -
”Collaboration Between Central Govt. and 17 Cities and Provinces to Prepare for the Public Adoption System Reform in July 2025”
Original MOHW (Ministry of Health and Welfare) Press Release
Original MOHW Press Release Attachment
Thank you to Chang Seon Kim for the links.
Translation via ChatGPT.
Posted to Paperslip - March 12th, 2023
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Original MOHW (Ministry of Health and Welfare) Press Release
“Collaboration Between Central Government and 17 Cities and Provinces to Prepare for the Public Adoption System Reform Without Hitches in July This Year
Meeting of Cities and Provinces held under the chairmanship of Eun Seong-ho, Director of Population and Social Services Policy (March 13) -
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho Kyu-hong) discussed the protection measures for children subject to adoption in preparation for the reform of the public adoption system scheduled for July 2025, during a meeting with 17 cities and provinces held on March 13 at 10 AM, chaired by Eun Seong-ho.
This meeting was convened to facilitate communication between the central government and local governments responsible for child protection, following the preparation of the "Special Act on Domestic Adoption" (renaming the Adoption Special Act) and the "Act on International Adoption" (scheduled for July 2023). The aim is to comprehensively reform the adoption system to strengthen national responsibility for adoption.
Once the public adoption system is reformed, the overall adoption process will be carried out primarily by the state and local governments. Local governments will play a crucial role in determining the necessity of adoption for children and protecting them as guardians until the adoption takes place. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will manage the adoption process, including the matching of adoptive parents, for children deemed in need of adoption by local governments, and will also support the execution of adoption-related tasks by these governments.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained the main contents of the public adoption system reform and the role of local governments in protecting children subject to adoption after the reform. In addition, each city and province shared the status and plans for preparing for the adoption system reform, as well as discussing opinions and suggestions related to the reform.
The government and each city and province plan to establish protection plans for children subject to adoption starting from this meeting and build a cooperation system with local governments and child rights protection agencies to ensure that the new adoption procedures can be carried out smoothly from July.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will pursue key tasks to ensure the establishment of the new public adoption system, including the creation and amendment of subordinate laws, the construction of an information system, and training for local government officials and employees of entrusted agencies. Throughout this process, communication with local governments, which are on the front lines of child protection, will continue.
Eun Seong-ho, Director of Population and Social Services Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, emphasized that "the role of cities and provinces, which are close to the field and oversee local policies, is crucial for the smooth operation of the comprehensively reformed public adoption system." He added, "We urge active participation and efforts from local governments to ensure that adoptions are conducted in the best interest of children with the reform of the adoption system in July 2025."
<Attachment> Direction for Reforming the Public Adoption System (see below)”
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Original MOHW Press Release Attachment
“Press Reference Material
Press Timing
Available for use immediately after distribution.
Distribution Date: March 13, 2025 (Thursday)
This meeting aimed to prepare seamlessly for the public adoption system reform scheduled for July this year, in collaboration with the central government and the 17 provinces and cities.
A meeting led by Eon Seong-ho, Director of the Population and Social Service Policy Office, took place (March 13).
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho Gyu-hong) discussed protection measures for children eligible for adoption in the context of the public adoption system reform scheduled for July 2025 during a meeting with 17 provinces and cities on the morning of March 13, chaired by Eon Seong-ho.
This meeting was convened to facilitate communication between the central government and local governments responsible for child protection ahead of the implementation of the "Special Act on Domestic Adoption" (renamed from the Adoption Special Act) and the "International Adoption Act," which are to be enacted in July 2023.
Under the reformed public adoption system, the overall adoption process will be managed by the state and local governments, with local authorities determining the necessity for adoption and playing a key role as guardians to protect children until the adoption is finalized. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will manage the adoption procedures, including the establishment of adoptive parents, for children deemed in need of adoption by local authorities, while also supporting local governments in their adoption-related tasks.
During this meeting, the Ministry of Health and Welfare explained the main contents of the public adoption system reform and the direction for protecting children eligible for adoption after the reform. Each province and city shared their preparations and plans for regional adoption system reforms, as well as opinions and suggestions related to the adoption system reform.
The government and each province will use this meeting as a starting point to establish protection plans for children eligible for adoption in their respective regions and to build cooperative systems with local governments and child rights protection agencies, ensuring that the new adoption procedures can proceed smoothly starting in July.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will promote key tasks for the establishment of the new public adoption system, including the establishment and revision of subordinate laws, the construction of information systems, and training for local government officials and personnel at entrusted agencies, while continuing to communicate with local governments involved in child protection.
Eon Seong-ho, Director of the Population and Social Service Policy Office at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, emphasized that for the newly reformed public adoption system to operate smoothly, the role of the provinces and cities, which are close to the field and oversee local policies, is crucial. He urged active participation and efforts from local governments to ensure that adoptions proceed in a manner that best serves the interests of children by July 2025.
Attachments: Directions for Public Adoption System Reform
Responsible Department
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Person in Charge: Team Leader Lee Yu-ri (044-202-3411)
Child Policy and Adoption System Reform Team
Contact Person: Official Lee Hyun-hee (044-202-3427)
Attachments: Directions for Public Adoption System Reform
Background
Complete revision of the "Special Act on Domestic Adoption" on July 18, 2023, and enactment of the "International Adoption Act" (replacing the existing Adoption Special Act) → Scheduled to take effect two years later (July 19, 2025).
Measures for ratifying the Hague Convention on International Adoption.
To implement the Hague Convention, the state and local governments will now be responsible for child adoptions previously managed by private adoption agencies.
Current Adoption Procedure for Protected Children
Local governments determine children in need of adoption → Adoption agencies protect them while matching suitable prospective adoptive parents, completing adoption through court approval → Adoption agencies provide post-adoption management.
Adoption Procedures Scheduled to Begin in July 2025
(Overall adoption process will be managed by the state and local governments)
Local governments will decide on children eligible for adoption and protect them until adoption → The Ministry will investigate prospective adoptive parents and match them at the adoption policy committee → Court will make temporary custody decisions and grant adoption approval → The Ministry will check the child’s adjustment situation.
Key Contents
(Decision/Protection) Local governments will determine children eligible for adoption through a review by the case decision committee, protecting the children until court approval for adoption.
If guardians such as biological parents cannot directly protect the children, they will be entrusted to child-rearing facilities, temporary protection facilities, group homes, or other suitable families (in this case, the local government head becomes the child's guardian).
(Management of Adoptive Parents) The Ministry will receive applications from prospective adoptive parents, conduct home investigations (which can be entrusted), and review their qualifications.
(Match and Adoption Approval) The Ministry's adoption policy committee (Secretariat: Child Rights Protection Agency) will oversee the matching of children and adoptive parents, followed by court approval procedures for adoption.
(Post-Adoption Management) The Ministry will check the child's adjustment situation for one year post-adoption (which can be entrusted), and the state and local governments are obliged to implement various supports for adoptive families.
(International Adoption) The Ministry will determine children eligible for adoption abroad and consult with foreign authorities regarding the evaluation and matching of foreign adoptive parents.” (Paperslip note - bolds ours).