South Korea reveals forced adoptions evidence from the 1980s

A South Korean truth commission, established in December 2020, has uncovered evidence of forced adoptions occurring in the 1980s. The commission's investigation revealed that women were coerced into giving up their infants for foreign adoptions at government-funded facilities, where thousands were confined and subjected to inhumane conditions. Records indicate that at least 20 adoptions took place from two specific facilities, Huimangwon and Cheonseongwon, during 1985 and 1986, coinciding with a peak in South Korea's foreign adoption program. The commission's findings highlight that many infants were transferred to adoption agencies immediately after birth, suggesting that the decision to place them for adoption was made prior to their birth. While some women appeared to have consented to the adoptions, evidence suggests that many were under significant pressure to comply. The investigation also revealed alarming human rights violations at these facilities, including high death tolls and the use of deceased inmates' bodies for medical practices. The population of these vagrant facilities surged in the 1980s as the military government intensified efforts to clear the streets in preparation for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics. The commission's work has brought to light the systemic abuses that occurred in these institutions, which had largely escaped scrutiny for decades. The revelations underscore the need for accountability and recognition of the human rights violations that took place, as the commission aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the past and its impact on affected families. This investigation marks a significant step in addressing historical injustices in South Korea's adoption practices.