South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has formally apologized for the country’s notorious foreign adoption program, which sent tens of thousands of children abroad following the Korean War and left many adoptees grappling with lifelong identity struggles.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, October 2, 2025, President Lee expressed a “heartfelt apology and words of comfort” to adoptees, their adoptive families, and their birth families. His statement comes seven months after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that the government violated the human rights of adoptees through widespread malpractice.
Findings of the Commission
The investigation, which reviewed complaints from 367 adoptees in Europe, the U.S., and Australia, revealed that:
- Government agencies and adoption brokers falsified records, often labeling children as “abandoned orphans.”
- Some children’s identities were switched to facilitate their removal.
- The state facilitated these practices for decades without adequate oversight.
The commission held the government accountable for these violations, marking a historic acknowledgment of responsibility.
Historical Context
Between 1955 and 1999, more than 140,000 South Korean children were sent abroad, beginning with mixed-race children born to local mothers and U.S. soldiers after the Korean War. Over time, the practice expanded, often targeting children born to unmarried women who faced social stigma in the deeply conservative society.
Even in the 2020s, South Korea continued to send an average of 100 children per year overseas for adoption.
Reform and International Oversight
In July, South Korea ratified the Hague Adoption Convention, a global treaty designed to safeguard international adoptions and prevent fraud. The convention officially took effect in South Korea on Wednesday, signaling a shift toward more regulated and transparent practices.
Acknowledging the Past
President Lee admitted he felt “heavy-hearted” when reflecting on the pain and confusion adoptees endured. He pledged to establish stronger systems to protect adoptees’ human rights and to support those seeking to reconnect with their birth families.
This is only the second official apology from a South Korean leader. The first came from former President Kim Dae-jung in 1998, who apologized but stopped short of recognizing the state’s direct responsibility for decades of malpractice.
With Lee’s acknowledgment, South Korea takes a deeper step toward accountability and reconciliation with the thousands affected by its controversial adoption history.
