Kim Yoo-ree, a Korean adoptee to France, kneels before Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairperson Park Sun-young during a press conference at the TRC's office in Seoul, Wednesday, pleading for stronger measures to address human rights violations in overseas adoptions. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Wednesday found that past Korean governments were responsible for human rights violations in overseas adoptions from the 1960s to the 1990s, pointing to falsified records and inadequate supervision.

This marks the first official acknowledgment by the Korean government of the irregularities in the nation's previous overseas adoption system — issues that hundreds of adoptees have been raising in recent years.

Following a yearslong probe, the TRC concluded that legislative gaps, inadequate government oversight and administrative failures led to widespread misconduct.

"For nearly 50 years following the Korean War, the government prioritized intercountry adoption as a cost-effective alternative to strengthening domestic child welfare policies. By giving full authority over adoption procedures to private agencies without proper oversight, the government failed in its duty to protect children's rights," the commission said in the report.

"The lack of oversight made it difficult to regulate misconduct by adoption agencies, ultimately resulting in the large-scale overseas adoption of children in need of protection," it added.

The landmark report follows complaints filed in October 2022 by 367 adoptees who had been sent to 11 countries between 1964 and 1999.

The adoptees, including those in Denmark, Norway and the United States, alleged that their adoptions were facilitated through falsified documents and corrupt practices, with both the government and adoption agencies suspected of involvement.

A photo from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report on overseas adoption shows Korean babies and children aboard a plane to Denmark in December 1984. According to a TRC official, these children lacked appropriate care during their journey, as the primary focus was on sending as many children as possible in one plane. Courtesy of TRC

Korea saw a surge in overseas adoptions from the 1960s to the 1980s, driven by poverty, social stigma against unwed mothers and government policies aimed at population control. The adoption process has long been suspected of involving coercion and inadequate consent.

The TRC's extensive probe found instances where adoption procedures were conducted without proper consent from birth parents.

For example, in a case from 1980, a biological mother signed an adoption consent form the day after giving birth at a maternity hospital and entrusted the child to Holt, a private adoption agency. Holt took custody of the child after a single interview with the mother, without verifying her identity or biological relationship to the child.

"I hope that today's findings are not merely about revisiting the painful past, but serve as a platform for meaningful discussions among the more than 140,000 overseas adoptees and their adoptive countries," Park Sun-young, the commission's chairperson, said during a press conference in Seoul.

The commission urged the government to formally apologize to adoptees and provide remedies for those with falsified identities and adoption records. It also recommended practical support for adoptees seeking to reunite with their birth families.

Kim Yoo-ree, a Korean adoptee to France, cries during a press conference at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's office in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Although the commission's recommendations are not legally binding, they are expected to serve as critical evidence should the adoptees pursue lawsuits against the government demanding compensation.

Kim Yoo-ree, a Korean adoptee to France, said the recommendations were too weak and vague, urging the TRC to issue stronger measures to end forced intercountry adoptions. Kim was adopted by French parents in 1984 after being falsely documented as an orphan in Korea.

"My friend was adopted to France through Holt in 1974 and was raped by his adoptive father from the time he was a 5-month-old baby until he was 10 years old," she told reporters, shedding tears.

"The Korean government and private adoption agencies are flying high, while victims of illegal adoption are left to crawl. I beg you to put an end to this disgraceful situation."

Peter Moller, an adoptee from Denmark and co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group, speaks during a press conference at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's office in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Peter Moller, an adoptee from Denmark and co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group, said the commission's report has laid bare the dark truth adoptees themselves have known for decades.

"The deceit, fraud and systemic issues in Korea's adoption process can no longer be concealed. But today's milestone is not just about acknowledging the truth. It must also serve as the foundation for action and change," Moller said.

"Korea has now taken the first step in acknowledging its role. Now it is the recipient countries' turn to do the same."

Wednesday's announcement included only 56 of 367 filed cases due to the complexity of the issues and limited time. The commission plans to continue reviewing the remaining cases.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees adoption policies, was not immediately available for comment on the TRC's recommendations when contacted by The Korea Times.