Korean War Aftermath
Adoption practices between the United States and South Korea began after the Korean War ended. In 1951, the UN Korean Reconstruction Agency estimated that around 100,000 Korean children were left orphaned as a result of the Korean War which ended in 1953. Many children lost their parents in the conflict, while others were separated from their families during the split between North and South Korea.
During this time, there was a huge number children born to American soldiers and Korean mothers. As a result, thousands of mixed-race children, also known as Amerasians, were left fatherless, or ultimately abandoned. These children were shunned in Korean society due to Confucian ideals that strongly emphasized racial homogeneity. Confucian ideals also caused problems for non-mixed Korean orphans as well. Bloodlines were and still are prized in Korea. Adopting non-blood related children is considered taboo in Korea.
Western media painted Korea and the Korean War in a very bleak light. Consequently, Korean orphans were pictured as societal outcasts and products of war. Many sentimental Americans responded by donating money, clothing, and toys to orphanages. They also began inquiring on how to adopt Korean orphans into their families.
During this time, there was a huge number children born to American soldiers and Korean mothers. As a result, thousands of mixed-race children, also known as Amerasians, were left fatherless, or ultimately abandoned. These children were shunned in Korean society due to Confucian ideals that strongly emphasized racial homogeneity. Confucian ideals also caused problems for non-mixed Korean orphans as well. Bloodlines were and still are prized in Korea. Adopting non-blood related children is considered taboo in Korea.
Western media painted Korea and the Korean War in a very bleak light. Consequently, Korean orphans were pictured as societal outcasts and products of war. Many sentimental Americans responded by donating money, clothing, and toys to orphanages. They also began inquiring on how to adopt Korean orphans into their families.
Holt Adoption Agency
Harry Holt, an evangelical Christian from Oregon, created the Holt Adoption Agency "to bring Korean war orphans from the cold and misery and darkness of Korea, into the warmth and love of American homes." Holt believed it was his calling from God. Harry and his wife, Bertha Holt, adopted eight Korean children of their own in 1955. Despite controversial adoption practices, the Holt International Children's Services has grown to become the largest international adoption agency in the world today.
Push and Pull Factors of Adoption
After the Korean war, Korea progressed into modernization and industrialization. Many young Koreans moved away from their families and into urban areas to become factory workers. However, this also resulted in tens of thousands of Korean children that workers abandoned due to hardships and inability to care for children. Many single mothers also abandoned their children, as a fatherless child was frowned upon in Korean society. The Korean government also lacked in social services and offered very little financial aid for single mothers. Single mothers with wealthy relatives would often times receive no social services at all.
In post-war Korea, the government made a law prohibiting citizens from having more than two children. Many parents abandoned their children in order due pressure from patriotism.
The Korean government sent orphans abroad as adoptees in order to avoid the cost of providing extra social welfare services. Korean adoptees were estimated to bring approximately $15-$20 million a year in hard currency. As a result, Korea continued to be a huge supplier of children to the international adoption market.
In post-war Korea, the government made a law prohibiting citizens from having more than two children. Many parents abandoned their children in order due pressure from patriotism.
The Korean government sent orphans abroad as adoptees in order to avoid the cost of providing extra social welfare services. Korean adoptees were estimated to bring approximately $15-$20 million a year in hard currency. As a result, Korea continued to be a huge supplier of children to the international adoption market.
In the U.S, several factors contributed to the increase of international adoption. The legalization of abortion, easier access to contraceptives, and the Women's Liberation movement reduced the number of healthy children available for adoption in the U.S. In addition, the Civil Rights movement encouraged international adoption as an act of "anti-racism" that would save a destitute child from third-world countries. Lastly, Cold War politics encouraged international adoption as a means to rescue third-world children from communism.
Due to the increase in both demand and supply of adoptable Korean children, Korea supplied over 50,000 children in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, regulations on how many adoptees could be sent abroad were removed, which resulted in the an astonishing 66,000 Korean children being adopted internationally. However, removing regulations also meant that adoption agencies began to compete with one another in the Korean adoption industry. Adoption agencies began to be driven by commercial gain rather than humanitarian motives.
Due to the increase in both demand and supply of adoptable Korean children, Korea supplied over 50,000 children in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, regulations on how many adoptees could be sent abroad were removed, which resulted in the an astonishing 66,000 Korean children being adopted internationally. However, removing regulations also meant that adoption agencies began to compete with one another in the Korean adoption industry. Adoption agencies began to be driven by commercial gain rather than humanitarian motives.