South Korea's Reckoning: Addressing Adoption Abuses

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung apologized for the country's mishandling of foreign adoptions plagued by abuses and fraud. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings, alongside recent court rulings, confirmed instances of human rights abuses. There is rising pressure on the government to implement protective measures for adoptees.

South Korea's president issued an apology on Thursday for the mismanagement of foreign adoption programs that have been tainted by fraud and abuses. This comes after the country's truth commission recently acknowledged the state's responsibility for these issues.

President Lee Jae Myung conveyed his remorse in a Facebook post, offering a sincere apology to South Koreans adopted overseas and their families. This statement follows revelations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and judicial decisions that highlighted specific human rights violations in the practice of international adoptions.

Mounting pressure is being placed on the South Korean government to address fraudulent practices entrenched in its adoption systems, particularly during peak periods in the 1970s and 1980s. Many adoptees face falsified records, theft, and misrepresentation. South Korea's recent ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention signifies potential policy shifts to protect the rights of adoptees internationally.

(With inputs from agencies.)