First meeting chaired by Deputy National Security Adviser Im Woong-soon

Cheong Wa Dae holds the first meeting of the Overseas Adoptee Subcommittee under the Diaspora Policy TF, chaired by Deputy National Security Adviser Im Woong-soon, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
Cheong Wa Dae holds the first meeting of the Overseas Adoptee Subcommittee under the Diaspora Policy TF, chaired by Deputy National Security Adviser Im Woong-soon, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

Cheong Wa Dae has moved to develop measures to support an estimated 160,000 or more Koreans adopted abroad.

Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday it held the inaugural meeting of the Overseas Adoptee Subcommittee under the Diaspora Policy TF, chaired by Deputy National Security Adviser Im Woong-soon. The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korean National Police Agency and the Overseas Koreans Agency all took part.

The central focus of the meeting was shifting the handling of overseas adoptee affairs — previously scattered across individual ministries — into a pan-government collaborative framework.

Participants conducted a comprehensive review of how key concerns are being addressed, including the difficulties adoptees face when trying to confirm the circumstances of their birth and adoption or locate biological relatives, as well as issues of nationality restoration, resettlement support and identity recovery.

The government also reviewed follow-up measures at the national level for human rights violations that occurred during past overseas adoption processes.

Earlier, the second Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirmed in March last year that human rights violations had taken place during overseas adoptions and that the state had failed in its oversight responsibilities. The commission recommended an official apology, redress for victims and improvements to the adoption information disclosure system.

The meeting discussed the status of implementation of those recommendations and the need for further systemic reforms.

President Lee Jae Myung issued an apology in October last year to overseas adoptees, their families and birth families, and has since reiterated his commitment to supporting them — in a congratulatory address at the World Korean Adoptee Conference this year and during visits to Europe and G7 nations.

"Starting with today's meeting, we will continue to monitor progress on key reform tasks and expand support so that adoptees can go beyond tracing their roots and take their place as a vital part of the overseas Korean community," Im said.


sang@heraldcorp.com