Korean Job Discussion Forums

Roxanne · Joined: 06 Sep 2009

Hi All,

I would just like some info, if anyone knows, "how does one go about adopting a little girl in Korea"...my sis and her hubby have a two year old girl and they would like to adopt a little sister for her. They tried in the philippines but the process was too long and due to some other reasons they couldnt.
Before their little one gets too big and the age gap closes in, they would like to add this little member to their family.
Any info would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

I am under the impression that it is very, very difficult.. but I could be wrong.

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

also Korea is also QUITE a bit more stringent than other countries on couple requirements, for example, weight of couple, age difference between couple, possibly religious status, they have to have been married a certain amount of years, etc. So if they experienced difficulties with Philippines it's not likely that Korea will be any easier, probably the opposite.

thoreau · Joined: 21 Jun 2009

guava · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

I suggest you contact the Holt Agency. Its near Hapjeong Station.

In 2008, U.S. citizens adopted approximately 1,065 children from South Korea.

Crockpot2001 · Joined: 01 Jul 2007

We fit or excelled in every category however we were told we would have to return to the USA to adopt in Korea. They would not accept our application as it is considered risky to adopt to aliens as they lose the chance to monitor the child and household when they leave. Really it's no more risky that if we were in the States. It seems there is a large push to promote adoption within race here which is not totally unreasonable other than the numbers of Parent:children don't match up.

We're researching Bulgaria currently.

ABC KID · Joined: 14 Sep 2007

I don't really know much about this topic but once when I was on the plane to Korea, I was sat next to a Swedish woman and her Swedish husband. They had already adopted one Korean child and were on their way to meet and collect a second Korean child for adoption.

Certainly it is possible to do it and you can probably get the ball rolling from outside of Korea but I haven't got a clue about the particulars of it all.

lovebug · Joined: 29 Apr 2009

i strongly encourage anyone interested in adopting from korea to do thorough research about the agencies in korea to know if they feel like it's ethical to support them monetarily. this would include contacting the many adoptee advocacy groups that are in korea, which include but are not limited to:

http://www.goal.or.kr/
http://www.adoptionjustice.com
http://adopteesolidarity.org/indexH.html

all the agencies are private and the government currently has no watchdog system. there was actually a public hearing this week regarding the upcoming amendments to the current system.

this is a speech from that hearing, by jane jeong trenka, an adoptee from the US:
http://cchronicle.com/2009/11/abuses-in-adoptions-from-s-korea/

lastly, a very recent article in the nytimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/us/09adopt.html?_r=1

lastly, korea has made strides over the past few years to drastically reduce international adoptions. ideally, they want to stop it completely. i've heard it's much more difficult now.

good luck with your process~

mr. positive · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Location: a happy place

I did A LOT of research into this, and if the couple are not Korean citizens, they can only adopt a Korean child while residing in their home country. If the HUSBAND is a Korean citizen, they can adopt a Korean kid no problem. If the WIFE is a Korean citizen, it does not good - they base adoption rights/legalities on the nationality of the husband and the wife's nationality has no bearing. So if I was the chick and my wife was the dude, we could adopt no problem, but since I'm the whitey and she's the Korean, not a chance. Just they way it is.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

mr. positive · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Location: a happy place

post deleted

seoulsister · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Location: International Network

FYI -If you are a foreigner living inside (or outside) of Korea you can adopt fairly easily in the case where the birth parent/s sign off on it directly, i.e; private adoption of a non-orphan. Even a single person can do this. Of course, finding such an opportunity is the hard part, but several people I know have done it.

Goon-Yang · Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Duh

If you can try to get your sister to adopt a half-Korean child. These are the ones that are going to have a shitty life and will never get anywhere.

My wife and I looked into this for my sister in Canada and I can tell you the process is long, difficult and expensive, but chances are beter if you request a 1/2 Korean child.

Roxanne · Joined: 06 Sep 2009

Hi there everyone,
Thanks for all the info and comments. I will take a look at the sites that were posted and check out some agents.
Husband is American, wife is South African, married for nearly 5 years now.