SEOUL, South Korea — On Wednesday, Yooree Kim, a 52-year-old South Korean woman who was adopted to a French family in 1984 without the consent of her biological parents, filed a petition seeking compensation from the South Korean government. Kim alleges that authorities at the time fraudulently documented her as an orphan despite her having a living family, a practice that has been recognized as a human rights violation.
Kim's case is part of a broader investigation by South Korea's truth commission, which recently identified her and 55 other adoptees as victims of forced adoption practices. These practices included falsification of child origins, loss of adoption records, and failures in child protection systems. The commission's findings have brought renewed attention to the issue of forced international adoptions from South Korea during the 1980s and 1990s.
According to reports by The Washington Post and the Associated Press, Kim was sent to France by an adoption agency when she was 11 years old. Her biological parents were not consulted or informed, and official documents falsely listed her as an orphan. This has led Kim to seek redress from the South Korean government for the emotional and legal consequences of the forced adoption.
The petition filed by Kim on Wednesday in Seoul marks a rare legal step by adoptees seeking accountability and compensation for past abuses. South Korea has faced international scrutiny over its adoption practices, which resulted in tens of thousands of children being adopted abroad, often under questionable circumstances.
Kim's case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by adoptees in tracing their origins and obtaining justice for forced adoptions. The South Korean government has acknowledged some responsibility and is currently reviewing policies related to adoption transparency and support for adoptees.
Yooree Kim's pursuit of compensation underscores the lasting impact of forced adoption policies and the importance of addressing historical human rights violations. Her case is being closely watched by human rights advocates and adoption reform groups worldwide.
