Newstapa / Naver Article: TRC Decides on Overseas Adoption Truth Revelation...Limits Also Revealed

Posted to Paperslip on March 26th, 2025.
Thanks to Chang Seon Kim for the link.
Translation via ChatGPT.
Bolds and red highlighting ours.

Excerpt from the article below:
“Despite the lengthy investigation period of 2 years and 7 months, the commission only reached decisions on 98 out of 367 total cases. It was revealed late in the press conference that among these, 42 cases were not classified as 'truth recognition' but instead labeled as 'pending.' The commission had held a meeting on the previous day, March 25, to decide on the truth recognition for 98 overseas adoption cases; 5 out of 9 members ruled these 42 cases as 'pending,' stating that the facts of harm were not recognized.”

What is not spelled out in the article is that the TRC is ending in May 2025; if a new TRC investigation is not formed by the new Korean government, which seems unlikely, then these 42 'pending' cases will effectively be dropped.

Paperslip Contributor Chang Seon Kim offers this analysis of the TRC Press Release:

"Less than 15% of the total applicants had their human rights violations recognized. While the Korean government acknowledges past human rights violations concerning overseas Korean Adoptees, it seems that progress has stalled. What does Truth and Reconciliation mean for the 311 adoptees—individuals, not just cases—who have waited two years and seven months? What have these 311 adoptees been waiting for? A significant conclusion is imminent, but it feels as though it is just the beginning of a larger struggle."

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“[Change] Truth and Reconciliation Commission Decides on Overseas Adoption Truth Revelation... Limits Also Revealed

Input: March 26, 2025, 6:55 PM
Reporter: Kang Hye-in

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Truth Commission) has designated certain overseas adoption cases from the 1970s and 1980s as "human rights violations" and recommended an official apology from the state. This is the first instance of a national agency pointing out human rights violations in past overseas adoptions and acknowledging state responsibility.

The Truth Commission's decision on truth revelation also includes issues related to the illegal collection of 'donations' by private overseas adoption agencies, previously exposed by NewsTapa. At that time, some adoption agencies created unofficial income by setting separate 'donation' fees to enhance the profitability of overseas adoption. They processed amounts exceeding the designated fee per child as donations.

The significance of the Truth Commission's decision lies in its official recognition of human rights violations against overseas adoptees. However, it has also been pointed out that several limitations became apparent alongside the announcement of the results.

The Truth Commission announced its findings after 2 years and 7 months since the investigation began.

On the 26th (of March, 2025), Park Sun-young, Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is announcing the investigation findings at the commission's office in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission held a press conference on the 26th at its office in Jung-gu, Seoul, to announce its decision on the 'truth revelation' regarding human rights violations in the overseas adoption process. The 'truth revelation' decision means that the commission recognizes the applicants as victims of state violence.

This investigation began in 2022 when overseas adoptees requested the Truth Commission to investigate illegal adoptions. By 2023, a total of 367 overseas adoptees had applied for truth revelation. After 2 years and 7 months of investigation, the commission made truth revelation decisions on 56 cases among the 367 applicants.

To conduct this investigation, the Truth Commission secured data from the four major domestic adoption agencies and conducted interviews with public officials involved in past adoption practices, as well as staff from adoption agencies and welfare facilities, and the biological families of the applicants.

The Truth Commission criticized, stating, "The Korean government has actively utilized overseas adoption from an economic perspective rather than strengthening domestic child welfare, leaving all procedures of overseas adoption to private adoption agencies without proper oversight." It further stated that by neglecting the inappropriate actions of adoption agencies and sending a large number of "at-risk children" (children not under the care of parents or other guardians) overseas, countless children have been deprived of their rights as outlined in the constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Truth Commission Points Out Eight Human Rights Violations... Including NewsTapa's Exposés

Earlier, in 2023, News Tapa extensively covered the issue of human rights violations against overseas adoptees through a series of ten investigative reports. While addressing issues such as falsification of adoption documents, it also obtained documents exchanged between Korean and Danish adoption agencies, revealing that Korean agencies collected substantial unofficial fees labeled as 'donations' in addition to the designated fees. According to News Tapa's investigation, the fees collected per child by Korean adoption agencies at that time were three to four times the official fees.

The Truth Commission concluded that numerous human rights violations occurred during the overseas adoption process due to illegal practices in the 1970s and 1980s. It revealed that overseas adoptions were conducted without the lawful consent of biological parents, and false documents like 'orphan registries' were created to facilitate the adoption of children in non-registered statuses. It criticized that the procedure to identify guardians for children who became lost due to accidents was essentially a mere formality. Notably, it was revealed that adoption agencies manipulated the identities of children in the process when they died, in order to quickly place other children for adoption.

Overseas adoptees listening to the announcement from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

As of 1984, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (now the Ministry of Health and Welfare) was supposed to conduct a "parental qualification review" during the overseas migration approval process. However, at that time, the number of overseas adoptions in Korea was over 8,000 per year, and the parental qualification reviews were inadequately conducted. Additionally, Korean adoption agencies were supposed to perform "guardian duties" to ensure that adopted children could settle well overseas, but this was also not upheld.

As a result, Korean adoption agencies simplified the adoption procedures to send more children overseas to meet the demands of adoptive parents. During this process, the Korean government neglected to address the forced collection of donations from adoptive parents by the agencies.

In summary, the eight human rights violation issues pointed out by the Truth Commission regarding overseas adoption are: ▲ Lack of lawful adoption consent, ▲ Falsification of records such as false reports of finding orphans, ▲ The procedural formality of identifying guardians, ▲ Intentional identity manipulation, ▲ Inadequate parental qualification reviews, ▲ Failure to perform guardian duties, ▲ Mass sending of children to meet parental demand, and ▲ Improper collection of donations by adoption agencies.

The Truth Commission stated, "The state has neglected its duty to guarantee the basic human rights of adoptees," and recommended an official apology from the government. Additionally, it urged the following: ▲ Investigation into the status of adoptees' citizenship acquisition and development of follow-up measures, ▲ Relief measures for victims, including addressing identity information manipulation, ▲ Improvement of the adoption information provision system, ▲ Practical support for reunions of adoptees with their families, and ▲ Prompt ratification of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

"Today marks a milestone in finally revealing the truth and beginning the healing process for many adoptees who have suffered for decades," said a Korean Adoptee.

Although the results have finally been announced, clear limitations have emerged, revealing internal disagreements within the Truth Commission during the press conference.

Park Sun-young, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, speaking.

However, on this day, overseas adoptees showed mixed reactions to the commission's decision. While they expressed their appreciation for the long-awaited results, they also voiced disappointment due to the clear limitations in the investigation process and outcomes. The Truth Commission faced significant criticism during the press conference, which coincided with the announcement of the results.

Despite the lengthy investigation period of 2 years and 7 months, the commission only reached decisions on 98 out of 367 total cases. It was revealed late in the press conference that among these, 42 cases were not classified as 'truth recognition' but instead labeled as 'pending.' The commission had held a meeting on the previous day, March 25, to decide on the truth recognition for 98 overseas adoption cases; 5 out of 9 members ruled these 42 cases as 'pending,' stating that the facts of harm were not recognized.

During the Q&A session at the press conference, standing committee member Lee Sang-hoon publicly expressed his disappointment with the decisions. He stated, "Personally, I find yesterday's committee decision regrettable and believe it is a half-measure, which I cannot agree with." He questioned, "Is it reasonable for the Truth Commission to differentiate victims and categorize harms when various illegalities have occurred for decades under state neglect?"

(Paperslip Note - Politically conservative) Chairwoman Park Sun-young was one of the five members who contributed to the 'pending' decisions. In response to reporters' questions about the basis for the 42 cases being placed on hold, she answered, "Generally, it was due to insufficient documentation," and added, "There must be criteria for handling cases, and the facts of harm must be verified."

Considering that past overseas adoptions were based on document manipulation and identity falsification, it is unsurprising that many cases lacked the documentation necessary to verify identities or find biological parents. An NGO head stated, "The very fact that there is no evidence to prove the identities of overseas adoptees is a massive human rights violation."

Another Korean Adoptee also faced the denial of harm recognition due to "insufficient documentation." She stated, "The lack of documentation is the essence of overseas adoption," adding, "The Truth Commission should not leave us adoptees in eternal uncertainty simply because there is no documentation."

She also mentioned over 200 cases that have yet to be decided by the Truth Commission, emphasizing, "Many incidents are still under investigation. I urge the Truth Commission to fully recognize the state's responsibility for all human rights violations that occurred during the overseas adoption process."

Another overseas adoptee at the press conference, Yooree KIM, pointed out the commission's recommendations and urged it to take practical measures to assist adoptees. She remarked, "The recommendations are extremely disappointing," and expressed hope that the Truth Commission would reassess the trauma that overseas adoption victims must carry for life and strengthen its recommendations.”

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