History of Adoption in Korea

Chapter 7

2011~2013 / Revised Act on Special Cases Concerning Adoption and Signed the Hague Adoption Convention

Trend of Domestic and Intercountry Adoption

• Expanded support of child-rearing expenses and medical bills for disabled children

• Reinforced support for disabled children through an increase in adoption charge

• Enforced the revised Special Adoption Act, focusing on the protection of the rights and interests of adoptees

• Signed the Hague Adoption Convention to implement the standard for international children's rights

Major Events

2011

• Provided amendment bill for the revised Special Adoption Act

• Increased support for adoptive families of disabled children

• Held a conference on the Hague Adoption Convention

2012

• Enforced the revised Act on Special Cases Concerning Adoption

2013

• The Minister of Health and Welfare signed the Hague Adoption Convention

• Held workshops for people related to adoption

• Implemented projects to support mothers and children during adoption

• consideration period

Main Contents of the Revised Special Adoption Act (revised in Aug. 2011, enacted in Aug. 2012)

• · Implementation of Family Court Approval System: Reinforcing national responsibility and making adoption procedures strict by having the court determine the completion of adoption

• · Implementation of Adoption Consideration System of Biological Parents: Providing a week of consideration period for biological parents after the child's birth to preferentially consider the natural family protection for the benefit of the child

• · Reinforcement of Qualification of Adoptive Parents: Those with criminal records, such as child abuse, family violence, sexual violence, or drug addiction(e.g. alcohol), are prohibited from being adoptive parents, and those who will be adoptive parents must attend classes offered by adoption agencies before adoption

• · Giving the status of Parental Adopted Child: The adoptee approved by the court is given a legal position equal to a biological child by the civil law, reinforcing the legal status of adoptees

• · System to Promote Domestic Adoption First: Promotion of domestic adoption to encourage domestic adoption

• · Support of Family Search: Guaranteeing the claim of adoption information disclosure for adoptees
  (Procedure) Apply to an authorized adoption agency or Korea Adoption Services → Receive agreement of biological parents on disclosure of adoption information → Disclose adoption information

• · Establishment of Korea Adoption Services: Key organization for the promotion of domestic adoption and rendering of post-adoption services

• · Signed the Hague Adoption Convention
  On May 24th, 2013, the Minister of Health and Welfare signed the Hague Adoption Convention in the Netherlands. The signing ceremony took place in the Netherlands Prime Minister's office (Binnenhof).

• · It was determined that Korea had secured legal and institutional grounds to join the convention as the adoption system changed fundamentally by extensively revising the Special Adoption Act and the civil law. Thus, to declare the Korean government's commitment to international society, the signing of the convention was carried out as a major project of the new government