THE Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Korea has discovered that over 200,000 South Korean children were unlawfully sent abroad through improper adoption procedures and fraudulent documentation, generating financial gains in the process.

This finding comes after nearly three years of investigation.

According to a BBC report, this illegal practice has been ongoing since 1953 and is considered a breach of human rights.

Biological parents of the adoptees were unaware of this act, with their children being taken without formal consent.

Out of the 367 cases filed, the commission has analyzed the first 100, with 56 identified as involving human rights violations.

"This is a shameful part of our history—while many adoptees were fortunate to grow up in loving families, others suffered great hardship and trauma due to flawed adoption processes. Even today, many continue to face challenges," Park Sun-young, the chairperson of the commission, said in the BBC report.

One of the victims of this illegal practice, Inger-Tone Ueland Shin, was taken to Norway by her adoptive parents through unlawful means after the Norwegian government denied their adoption request due to their age. They then opted to follow South Korea’s 'adoption application' process instead.

Another victim, Yooree Kim said that they should receive “compensation from the Korean government and adoption agencies, without going through lawsuits.”

The government announced plans to strengthen the adoption process and enforce a new law, set to take effect in July, to support these reforms.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• #South Korea
• #Improper Adoption
• #Fraudulent Documentation