Korean Adoption
International Adoption Page
Page Sponsored by KAAN
Historical Context of Korean Adoption
The Republic of Korea (ROK) better known as South Korea is located on the Korean peninsula down from China. South Korea is bordered on the north by North Korea. It’s southern tip is only separated by a few miles of ocean from Japan. Korea is cold in the winter and hot and humid during the summer.
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| Cicada’s or maemi as they are called in Korea, sing loudly during the summer season . |
The best time to visit is October or April. |
Technologically advanced, Korea’s economy has grown exponentially since its destruction during the Korean War in the 1950’s. In the last fifty years, Korea has changed rapidly from a country based on farming and villages to one where most of its 50 million people live in cities. It now has the 11th largest economy in the world causing some to question why Korean overseas adoption continues.
International Adoption from Korea began following the Korean war with mixed race children fathered by American soldiers and has continued to the present day. Most Korean children available for adoption today are placed by unmarried mothers who are concerned about the strong stigma against children who are born out of wedlock.
 Korea now places the fourth-largest number of children with U.S. families for adoption. Typically, infants are relinquished at birth and live with a foster family until they are adopted. Well over 90 percent of babies adopted from Korea are between 4 and 12 months old at the time of adoption. Background information on the birth family is usually available. Adopters have the option of traveling to Korea to meet their child and bring him or her home, or having the child escorted to the U.S. With their extended family and friends they form a Korean adoption community of over two million.
Quick Facts:
| Number of adoptions from South Korea |
2006: 1,376
2005: 1,630
2004: 1,716
2003: 1,790
2002: 1,779
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| Age/gender of children adopted from Korea in 2005 |
38% Female
92% under 1 year of age
7.5% 1 – 4 years of age
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| Estimated Cost |
$20,000 to $28,000 |
| Profile of Children |
4 mos. to 4 yrs. Special needs and older children are available |
| Family Status |
Must be married at least 3 years; 1 divorce per spouse. No singles. Fewer than 4 children already at home. Specific agency restrictions may apply
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| Parent Ages |
Both parents must be 25 to 45 years old at placement; sometimes waived for special needs children and parents of Korean ancestry. Some agencies may have other restrictions
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| Travel |
Children may be escorted to U.S. or one or both parents may travel.
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| Timeline |
From application to placement: girl, 8-12 months; boy, approximately 5-6 months |
Helpful Books from Tapestry:
Join one of these Online communities:
Korean Focus, a family support organization with chapters in VA, MD, TN and OH.
Adopt Korea at Yahoo Groups, for pre- and post-adopters and adoptees.
Consult these websites to stay up to date:
U.S. State Department Country Information Flyer
U.S. State Department Intercountry Adoption
U.S. Embassy in South Korea
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
About the page Sponsor:
Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network, www.kaanet.com
KAAN is the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network. Adoptees, Adoptive Parents and Korean Americans are involved in this organization, making it a most inclusive organization.
KAAN is a network which links individuals and organizations across the United States and Canada.
KAAN's mission is to support networking and build understanding among Adoptees, Adoptive Families, Koreans And Korean Americans.
copyright 2008 by Tapestry Books |
