Robert Calabretta, a 34-year-old adopted from South Korea by parents in the United States, discovered the truth about his adoption when he reunited with his birth parents for the first time since he was 3 days old. He learned that his parents had been told he was very sick and had died, leading to his adoption. This discovery led to questions about the ethical practices of South Korea’s adoption system.
An investigation by The Associated Press found that approximately 200,000 Korean children were supplied to parents overseas through questionable means, including kidnapping children off the streets, fabricating documents, and falsely telling parents their children were dead or too sick to survive. Western countries and adoption agencies collaborated with South Korea in these practices.
The investigation also revealed that agencies paid hospitals to supply children, and the South Korean government knew of the fraudulent practices but did not intervene. The adoption industry in South Korea grew out of the aftermath of the Korean War and continued to supply children to meet the demand from wealthy nations while saving on welfare costs.
Many adoptees like Calabretta have been searching for their roots and discovering unsettling truths about their adoptions. Some were not genuine orphans, and their stories are sparking a reckoning in the international adoption industry. While most adoptions are believed to be honest, the lack of reliable documents makes it challenging for adoptees to reunite with their birth families and uncover the truth about their adoptions.
The investigation has resulted in inquiries, investigations, and a fact-finding commission, initiated under pressure from adoptees. The documentary “South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning” premieres on PBS and online, shedding light on the dark practices of South Korea’s adoption system and the impact on those involved.
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