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The Korea Herald
2008.11.20
More babies adopted locally
The number of domestic adoptions exceeded the international adoption figure for the first time in Korea last year, according to data released by a research agency yesterday.
In a statistical report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the total number of children adopted locally increased from 1,332 in 2006 to 1,388 in 2007, while internationally adopted children decreased from 1,899 in 2006 to 1,264 last year.
In an overall view, the total number of adoptions is dropping but international adoption figures are falling at a faster pace, said Chang Young-sik, senior fellow at the statistics development team at the institute. This is partly because more people are now open to adoptions, a fact that was kept mum in the past.
This is an interesting finding due to the fact that, ever since 1953, foreign adoptions have been much more popular than domestic adoptions.
About 160,000 children were sent overseas for adoptions from 1953 to 2007 and the figure for foreign adoptions was more than triple that of local ones in 1987.
The increase in local adoptions, however, is a result of multiple factors.
It was reported earlier this week that the number of foreign adoptions plummeted 12 percent last year in the United States, one of the most popular destinations for adoptees, recording its lowest level since 1999.
The government also implemented a comprehensive plan to encourage local adoptions in January of last year.
The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs designated May 11 as the Day for Adoptions and introduced various activities that could promote more people to take part in the governments effort. It also relaxed regulations on adoption procedures and took away the fee that had been required for the new parent to pay the adoption facility.
Nurturing and education costs for adopted children are also supported by the government.
As a good example, domestic adoptions became increasingly spotted among prominent celebrities in recent years.
Celebrity couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra adopted two daughters, Ae-un in 2005 and Ae-jin this January. Not only that, the couple has been proceeding with volunteer work for five years at the Social Welfare Society, which focuses on issues related to local adoption.
Yoon Suk-hwa, the nations top stage actress, also adopted two children, a 5-year-old boy named Sumin in 2003 and Su-hwa, a 1-year-old daughter, last year.
If anyone is thinking of adopting a child, I would make a strong recommendation for them to take action, Yoon told local media. Some tough times exist in raising the child but you cant compare it to what you get after.
Women are not the only ones open-minded about adoptions. Koreas most famous fashion designer Andre Kim made an early move and adopted his son in 1982.
Kim, who adopted the 1-year-old child of a friend who had filed for divorce, said he found true happiness by creating his own family.
I wasnt able to imagine what it would be like at first but I discovered that rewards and happiness of life comes from ones own family, he said.
By Cho Ji-hyun
( [email protected])
2008.11.20
www.koreaherald.co.kr
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