Han Tae-soon spent nearly half a century searching for her daughter, Kyung-ha, who disappeared from their home in Seoul in May 1975. The last time Ms. Han saw her daughter, she was just six years old, playing outside as she left for the market. When she returned, Kyung-ha was gone. After 44 years of searching, they reunited, only for Kyung-ha to be scarcely recognizable as Laurie Bender, a middle-aged woman living in the US.
Ms. Han is now suing the South Korean government for failing to prevent the illegal adoption of her daughter, alleging that Kyung-ha was kidnapped, placed in an orphanage, and subsequently sent to the US under the guise of adoption. This lawsuit is part of a wider movement as hundreds of others come forward with accusations of fraud, human trafficking, and illegal adoptions connected to South Korea’s controversial overseas adoption programs, which have sent an estimated 170,000 to 200,000 children abroad since the 1950s.
In March, a significant inquiry exposed systematic human rights violations by South Korean governments that allowed private agencies to “mass export” children without rigorous oversight. Experts suggest these revelations could lead to more legal actions. While Ms. Han prepares for her court date next month, she is the first biological parent seeking damages for a botched adoption case.
The government acknowledged the painful experiences of families separated for decades and expressed regret regarding Ms. Han's situation, although it did not confirm liability. “I spent 44 years ruining my body and mind searching for [my daughter],” she said, lamenting a lack of apology or acknowledgment from officials.
Over the years, Han and her husband sought information through various means, including putting up flyers and appealing for help on television, but to no avail. It wasn't until 2019, after joining a group that matches overseas adoptees with their birth parents through DNA testing, that they received a breakthrough. This led to an emotional reunion at the airport where the two women embraced, with Ms. Han touching Kyung-ha’s hair to confirm her identity.
After years of separation, they learned of Kyung-ha's abduction. A woman had lured her away from her home, falsely claiming her mother didn’t want her anymore. She was later placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a family in Virginia with falsified documents indicating she was an abandoned child.
This troubling chapter in South Korean history has its roots in the aftermath of the Korean War when an overwhelming number of children were left orphaned. With few local families willing to adopt, the South Korean government began facilitating overseas adoptions through private agencies, which became largely unregulated over time. Critics have alleged that many children were taken under dubious circumstances, such as systematic kidnappings and false identifications.
The inquiry's findings reveal that many of these adoptions were driven by profit, with agencies charging significant fees and manipulating records to expedite adoptions. Experts assert that the South Korean government bears considerable blame for neglecting its oversight responsibilities while actively shaping policies that facilitated these adoptions.
As South Korea confronts its overseas adoption history, adoptees and birth parents like Ms. Han advocate for accountability. Recent reforms aim to better manage future adoptions and reduce illegal practices. Ms. Han continues to grapple with the aftermath of her loss, stemming from a lack of communication with her daughter, who speaks little Korean.
Despite her reunion, she feels incomplete, stating, “I found my daughter, but I don’t feel like I have her. What good is knowing where she is if we can’t communicate?”
