Adoptee ad causes controversy

By Lee Hyo-sik

The government’s plan to air a TV advertisement featuring dozens of orphans to promote adoption is causing controversy over its possible violation of the human rights of the children shown.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday that it will create an ad introducing the profiles of 30 orphans waiting to be adopted and air it on state-run KTV in May, as part of efforts to find abandoned children new homes.

Critics say the advertisement infringes upon the human rights of orphans whose private information will be made available to the public without their consent, adding the move will not help promote domestic adoption.

“The government has been trying to shed Korea’s image as an orphan exporter. Over the past few years, it has made it more difficult for foreigners to adopt Korean children, while encouraging Koreans to become foster parents by providing financial subsidies and other incentives. But I think such efforts have largely failed in achieving the intended goals,” said Lee Eun-mi, coordinator at People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.

Lee then said the planned TV advertisement shows how desperate the government is to promote domestic adoptions, insisting the ad clearly violates the human rights and privacy of the children.

“The name, photo, age and other personal information of the orphans will be exposed indiscriminately to the public. This information could be used against them,” the coordinator said. She also said even if orphans are adopted, many people will know that they were abandoned by their biological parents and raised by someone else, adding this could hurt them when they grow up.

Lee said adoption is a very private matter in Korea, adding many foster parents want to adopt children clandestinely. “I don’t think airing an adoption TV ad is an effective way to encourage people to become foster parents. It’s just that it will not do any good for the children.”

Despite an escalating controversy over its TV advertisement, the health and welfare ministry has vowed to air the ad, arguing that it will not compromise the human rights and the privacy of the 30 orphans who will appear.

“We consulted with legal experts about whether the ad violates the human rights of children waiting to be adopted. But they told us there is nothing wrong with it. Such TV ads have been aired in the United States and other countries, some of which worked well in encouraging adoption,” a ministry official said.

The official said there are some 1,800 children waiting for adoption nationwide with the number growing day by day, stressing that the government needs to implement all possible measures to find them new homes.

“All 30 children, recommended by adoption agencies, will be introduced for one minute each in an advertisement to be aired on KTV in May. We are also looking for a range of policy tools to boost financial assistance and other support for foster families,” he said.