Truth and Reconcilation Commission Korea
(TRC / TRCK)
Press Conference on the Decision to Investigate Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process -
March 26th, 2025 (KST).

The Truth and Reconcilation Commission Korea (TRC / TRCK) held a press conference on March 26th, 2025 to announce its first press release:

”Truth Investigation into Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process Due to the Government’s Systemic Failure in Oversight and Management”

Download the PDF documents of the Opening Remarks and the Press Release below.

Thank you to Edward Cha and Dongick You for these documents.

Document 1:
Download Opening Remarks:
Press Conference on the Decision to Investigate Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process | Chairperson: Park Sun-Young, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission - March 26th, 2025

*Please see below this section for the text of Document 1.

Document 2:
Download Truth and Reconcilation Commission Korea
(TRC / TRCK) Press Release - ”Truth Investigation into Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process Due to the Government’s Systemic Failure in Oversight and Management” - March 26th, 2025

*Please download this document to view
(we have not reproduced it on this page).

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Download Opening Remarks:
Press Conference on the Decision to Investigate Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process | Chairperson: Park Sun-Young, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission - March 26th, 2025

“Press Conference on the Decision to Investigate Human Rights Violations in the Intercountry Adoption Process

Chairperson: Park Sun-Young, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2025. 3. 25.)【 Opening Remarks 】

Good morning. I am Sun-young Park, Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Over seventy years ago, amidst the devastation of war, countless orphans who had lost their parents wandered the streets. Thanks to the assistance of war veterans and missionaries, one by one, these children began to be sent abroad. Today, that number has exceeded 140,000.

Throughout this process, numerous legal and policy shortcomings emerged, leading to serious violations of the rights of adoptees, their biological parents- particularly birth mothers- and others involved. These violations should never have occurred.

Additionally, some adoptive parents were found to be unfit, resulting in cases where adoptees had to wait as long as six years before their adoption was legally finalized after arriving in their adoptive country.

While many adoptees were fortunate to grow up in loving families, others suffered great hardship and trauma due to flawed adoption processes. Even today, many continue to face challenges.

Today, we are honored to be joined by adoptees from as far as Northern Europe, the United States, and Australia etc.

South Korean adoptees have been sent to 15 countries worldwide. These are, for the most part, nations that supported South Korea during the Korean War. However, many adoptees encountered significant difficulties while growing up in these countries.

Despite the pain of having to recall and testify about their traumatic experiences, adoptees have bravely come forward to seek the truth and to testify before our Commission. We deeply appreciate your courage.

I also want to extend my gratitude to the members of the press for your dedicated efforts in informing the public and upholding the people’s right to know. Your keen interest and unwavering commitment to justice are invaluable, particularly as we take this critical step in confronting our past.

I apologize for the limited space, which may make it difficult for camera crews to carry out their work. Nonetheless, I am sincerely grateful for your presence.

【 Progress and Background 】

Looking back, the history of adoption is deeply intertwined with the history of humankind itself, transcending both Eastern and Western societies.

However, legal frameworks governing adoption were only established in the min-20th century. This was for too late compared to the timeline of legal recognition for fundamental human rights and freedoms.

In many Eastern societies, children were historically not regarded as independent individuals but rather as dependents belonging to their parents.

In South Korea, where blood ties are deeply valued-embodied in the belief that “blood is thicker than water”-domestic adoption has remained extremely rare. Even today, this remains largely unchanged.

Furthermore, following the devastation of the Korean Warm South Korea became one of the poorest nations in the world. From an economic perspective, intercountry adoption was actively encouraged as a solution.

This “active” approach, combined with Korea’s notorious “Hurry Hurry” culture, resulted in poorly developed legal frameworks and rushed administrative procedures.

Shockingly, even after South Korea became an economically prosperous nation in the 1990s, intercountry adoptions continued. The children bore the full brunt of the consequences.

As a journalist, I once investigated these issues with deep anger and frustration. Now, standing here today, I find it deeply distressing that I must announce findings that remain largely unchanged.

This is a shameful part of our history.

Of the 140,000 adoptees sent overseas, a total of 367 individuals from 11 countries-including the United States, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Luxembourg-have officially filed petitions requesting our Commission to investigate and reveal the truth.

Due to the sheer volume of cases, we will be announcing only around 60 cases today. We ask for your understanding in this regard.

【 Closing Remarks 】

As Chairperson, I sincerely hope that today’s conference is not merely an occasion to expose past wounds but instead marks the beginning of a collective effort.

We must come together-adoptive countries and adoptees alike-to address the identity crises many adoptees face, to provide educational and employment opportunities, and to take meaningful steps to heal their pain.

Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the applicants(petitioners) who have traveled from afar to be here today.

I also want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the domestic and international journalists who have taken the time to cover this event, despite the complexities of the current political landscape.

Lastly, to our dedicated investigators and staff who have worked tirelessly for over 25 months to compile these reports-thank you for your unwavering commitment.

May our collective efforts and sincerity reach the heavens.

Thank you.”