By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A court ruled in favor of a Pakistan adoptee, Tuesday, who immigration authorities had ordered to leave Korea.
The 28-year-old Pakistani was adopted by a Korean parent in 2005 but was suspected by the Immigration Service of abusing the adoption system with the aim of extending his stay here.
The service rejected an attempt he made to stay here longer in October, 2008, and so the man filed a lawsuit with the Uijeongbu District Court.
The ruling stated, "Although the adoption of foreign adults is against domestic sentiment and he has a partial purpose to extend his stay, we can acknowledge the sincerity of the adoption so deporting him is unfair."
It added that government agencies can tell fake adoptions and marriages in the process of investigation. "If his stay is not extended due to immigration policy, it could damage the relationship of family members."
So far, the Immigration Service has argued that adoption is normally for those who need to "carry on a family line" and minors who cannot survive alone.