A 70-year-old South Korean woman has taken legal action against her government, an adoption agency, and an orphanage for the adoption of her daughter, who was sent to the United States in 1976 after being kidnapped at the age of four. This lawsuit, filed by Han Tae-soon, comes after an investigation by the Associated Press revealed the problematic child-gathering practices and document falsifications that plagued South Korea’s adoption system during the 1970s and 1980s.
Han’s case marks the first instance of a Korean birth parent suing the government and an adoption agency for damages related to the wrongful adoption of their child. Han spent over 40 years searching for her daughter, Laurie Bender, before they were finally reunited through DNA testing in 2019. In her lawsuit, Han alleges that the South Korean government failed to prevent Bender’s adoption, despite her efforts to report her daughter missing and search for her tirelessly over the years.
The lawsuit also targets Holt Children’s Services, the largest adoption agency in South Korea, for allegedly facilitating Bender’s adoption without verifying her background. Han’s lawyers claim that the Jechon Children’s Home, where Bender was placed after being reported missing by her mother, made no attempts to locate her family before she was sent to the US using a new identity.
Han, emotionally recounting her pain and the momentary joy of reuniting with her long-lost daughter, emphasised the need for accountability from the government and adoption agencies. Her legal team seeks approximately 600 million won ($445,000) in damages for the distress caused by the botched search efforts and Bender’s subsequent adoption.
The lawsuit sheds light on the larger issue of questionable adoption practices in South Korea, which saw around 200,000 Korean children being sent to the US and other Western countries. Despite long-standing evidence of irregularities in the adoption process, authorities in both South Korea and Western nations failed to address the systemic flaws that led to children being placed in foreign homes through deceitful means.
In a similar case, Adam Crapser, another Korean adoptee, had previously sued the South Korean government and an adoption agency over mishandling his adoption to the US. The legal battle underscores the need for accountability and transparency in international adoption practices to prevent further injustices against birth parents and adoptees alike.
As Han’s lawsuit unfolds in the Seoul Central District Court, it serves as a stark reminder of the enduring pain and trauma faced by families impacted by unethical adoption practices. The case highlights the importance of rectifying past wrongs and ensuring that adoption processes prioritise the well-being and rights of all individuals involved.