Problems with Adoption in Korea

A priest in the welfare apostolate  of a diocese was asked to come to an adoption home run by sisters, for an interview with a woman from France. The woman was in Korea to take her son, who was adopted from Korea, back to France. He was addicted to liquor and drugs and no matter how much the parents wanted him to return, he refused. The mother had to return to France alone.

The priest, writes in a  bulletin about his experience with adopted children, and what he has learned. At that time he met the friends of the boy who had returned to Korea from France. Many years before the priest had studied in France, and met many Korean young people who had been adopted and living in France, he wanted to help them.

When he left the work in welfare he didn't want to put a burden on his successor but he finally did get around to starting a legal cooperation 'Nest' to be of service to the unfortunate adoptees.  More than 230,000 were adopted after the Korean War. Not all  were fortunate in the parents they found and in their new homes. 

Many have devoted parents and have adapted well to their new environment but some of the parents did not do the necessary paper work, either unknowingly or deliberately, to  make them citizens of the country; in the United States we have some who are considered illegal aliens and in prison.

Adopted children are crying out and looking for their birth mothers. He strongly feels that Korea  has to change the way they look on unmarried mothers and  help them keep their babies. He reminds us that there are two or three infants everyday being sent overseas. He doesn't hear people raising their voices in opposition to this in a country that is tenth in financial strength.

We speak about the low birthrate and aging population, loudly condemn contraception and abortion, should we not also start making a society that will accept the unmarried mothers and help them to keep their child? Changing the thinking on adopting children within  the country is also a need. And concludes with a desire that we remember the  many Korean children who are adopted and living in other countries.