The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Hybe's new boy group Boynextdoor aims to be 'one and only' presence in K-pop

  • 3

    Brave Girls to restart activities under new name

  • 5

    Rapper Mino attends sister's wedding in U.S. amid military service

  • 7

    BTS' J-Hope to work as drill instructor at Army boot camp: sources

  • 9

    Korea to ease immigration rules to attract more medical tourists

  • 11

    Actors' off-screen chemistry enthralls fans

  • 13

    Anti-corruption watchdog set to investigate crypto assets of lawmakers

  • 15

    Rude cabbies in Seoul face stricter penalties

  • 17

    'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema

  • 19

    Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues

  • 2

    Seoul city erroneously sends emergency alert after NK launch

  • 4

    NK's attempt to launch 1st spy satellite fails after 'abnormal' flight: S. Korean military

  • 6

    Seoul City takes flak for bungled emergency text alert on NK's rocket launch

  • 8

    Running convenience stores becomes popular among people in 20s, 30s

  • 10

    Big businesses face growing union pressure to extend retirement age

  • 12

    Sluggish exports behind weak Korean won

  • 14

    Naver suffers shrinking online search market share

  • 16

    Seoul resident clashes with authorities for raising dogs to nab 'North Korean spies'

  • 18

    Doctors, pharmacists to receive 30% bonus for offering telemedicine service

  • 20

    NATIONALKorea likely to face pressure over imports of Fukushima seafood

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, June 1, 2023 | 21:20
New Adoption Policy Backfires
Posted : 2010-02-12 18:04
Updated : 2010-02-12 18:04
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The government has approved a policy that reduces the number of babies eligible for overseas adoption but the plan is showing signs of backfiring, depriving children with special needs of chances to be placed with qualified parents.

Korea is trying to reduce the number of adoptions overseas to burnish its image but the new policy is leaving kids with special needs out of the loop.
/ Korea Times
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

The government has approved a policy that reduces the number of babies eligible for overseas adoption but the plan is showing signs of backfiring, depriving children with special needs of chances to be placed with qualified parents.

According to social welfare officials specializing in adoption, the current system needs to be changed to increase the opportunities for children with special needs to be taken in by parents overseas or domestically.

They say the system was introduced to improve Korea's reputation when it comes to adoption that it sends many children overseas.

But considering Koreans' long-held reluctance to adopt, the plan was ill-conceived, they say.

The latest statistics, filed by the U.S. State Department, show that Korea is fourth behind China, Ethiopia and Russia in terms of foreign adoptees in the United States since 1996.

Under the current system, children up for adoption should stay in foster care for five months while waiting to be placed with suitable new families. If no Koreans apply, then the child becomes a candidate for overseas adoption. Thanks to the system, the number of overseas cases is shrinking at a dramatic pace ㅡ the government is planning to reduce the number of overseas adoptees by 10 percent every year.

However, insiders say the system is effective when it comes to the adoption of female children, but works against the rest, especially those with special needs.

About 97 percent of children with disabilities or serious illnesses were taken in by overseas parents, reflecting the fact that Koreans still prefer children without such challenges.

"However, due to the system, even when the process is complete, they sometimes have to wait a year to meet their new parents," a social welfare planner, who asked not to be named, said.

Despite the government's encouragement for domestic adoption, the number of children taken in by Korean families is not growing as fast as expected. The government provides incentives to families who adopt Korean children. Still, 1,314 children were given new homes in 2009, a fall from the 1,388 in 2007.

"It is true that these children are less likely to be chosen even after the five months. The longer the process takes, the longer it takes for them to get adjusted to their new life," the welfare planner said.

Bae Tai-soon, a professor at Kyungnam University, said, "We have constantly been talking about this issue but the government seems not to be listening. It is best for children to be brought up in a stable family. We need to allow the special-needs children to find new homes, even if it is abroad."

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Seoul City takes flak for bungled emergency text alert on NK's rocket launch Seoul City takes flak for bungled emergency text alert on NK's rocket launch
2Rude cabbies in Seoul face stricter penaltiesRude cabbies in Seoul face stricter penalties
3In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd
4[INTERVIEW] Asia expected to be key driver of ESG growth: Deloitte ESG Partner INTERVIEWAsia expected to be key driver of ESG growth: Deloitte ESG Partner
5Committee calls for lowering requirements for foreigners to teach English online Committee calls for lowering requirements for foreigners to teach English online
6Chinese account for 54% of foreign-owned homes in Korea Chinese account for 54% of foreign-owned homes in Korea
7Retailers adopt generative AI to offer personalized products, services Retailers adopt generative AI to offer personalized products, services
8North Korea's spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into sea North Korea's spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into sea
9AMCHAM stresses S. Korea-US ties after NK fires 'space launch vehicle' AMCHAM stresses S. Korea-US ties after NK fires 'space launch vehicle'
10Mercedes-Benz Korea appoints new CEO Mercedes-Benz Korea appoints new CEO
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out' INTERVIEWLee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'
2From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June
3'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
4SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
5ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group