Opinion: Korean Adoptee Critical of Adoption Policies

Occasionally, we will link to media opinions on aspects of adoption and child welfare that you may never have thought about. This opinion piece discusses lack of support for Korean single women and corruption of agencies.

Another must-read on adult adoptee’s opinion of how the adoption process operates. See the whole opinion at Adoptee critical of adoption policy [Korea Times 5/8/13 by Kim Jae-Won]

Excerpt: ““Salaries of their top CEOs reach more than 100 million won. They make a lot of money and what’s the product? The products are babies.”

She opposed adoption agencies running shelters for unwed moms because they want to “harvest” babies, by providing accommodation and food for mothers with no economic ability to raise their children.

Instead, she argued the government and social welfare centers should encourage unwed moms to raise their children by creating policies which prevent discrimination in the job market and support them in getting jobs.

Heit said she recently met her biological mother whom she has sought for years and learned it was her grandmother’s choice for her to be adopted.

“My mom said that ‘let’s not cry’ when we first met, but she cried when she was telling me the story.””

Single Moms’ Day

“She said that unwed and single moms will host events this weekend, celebrating Single Moms’ Day which falls on Saturday. They will have a conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday, followed by a talk show titled Human Library which will be held at a cafe in Hongdae, Saturday.”

REFORM Puzzle Piece