Opinion: Korean Adoption

Occasionally, we will link to media opinions on aspects of adoption and child welfare that you may never have thought about.

This opinion piece from the Holt Adoption Baby blog discusses Korean adoption  and the “saving” aspect from one adult adoptee’s point of view. It is worth the time to read and reflect on how the “evacuation measures” of international adoption and believing in the concept that Korea “is an ignorant society that can’t change” affects how international adoption is currently being promoted.

One quote about which kids are in orphanages and which kids get sent abroad : “The orphanages are not filled with half-breed children, they are filled with children who have dysfunctional parents or orphans whose extended family can’t care for them or children in respite care whose guardians are having a temporary rough time. Then there are the Holt orphanages filled with special needs children. The children sent abroad for adoption are infants, sent away to hide a family’s shame and jettison the weight which will prevent a woman from succeeding because she has no other options without family support. ”

That being said, Reformatina brings up a very important point, ” The pro-promote-IA-no-matter-what crowd thinks the madness is ok to “save” the few (even if others are harvested in the process). The shut -down-all-IA crowd believes nothing will change until IA is no longer an option for any child.

I disagree with both sides.”

The complex process of reform will take decreasing corruption as much as possible in part by removing money from the equation and removing  industry moneymakers with histories of corruption permanently while strengthening the child welfare infrastructure and assessing the child’s individual needs. Each country has unique challenges. There are no quick-fixes.

REFORM Puzzle Piece