Korean-American adoptees who are interested in conducting a birth family search should first contact their American adoption agency with their requests. Most U.S. agencies will work with adoptees to get in touch with their Korean adoption agency or orphanage. (Exception: Those adopted through Holt are advised to contact Holt Children's Services in Korea to initiate a birth family search.)
The four main adoption agencies in Korea that facilitate or have previously handled intercountry adoptions are:
Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS, formerly ECWS)
Holt Children's Services
Korea Social Service (KSS)
Social Welfare Society (SWS)
GOA'L has a good summary of the steps adoptees should consider taking in conducting a search.
In addition, K@W and Truepeny Publishing have published KADSearch, a thorough guide to birth family search for Korean adoptees. (KAHI has a copy of this guide available for members' reference.)
Other resources are also available to adoptees who wish to use additional or alternative avenues to search for birth family in Korea. Some of these resources are:
Global Overseas Adoptees' Link (GOA'L)
Bridge of Adoptees from Chonnam, Kwangju (BACK)
Global Adoption Information & Post Service (GAIPS)
International Korea Adoptee Service (InKAS)
Korea Welfare Foundation: Find Parent
The Korea Herald's Reunion Plaza for Overseas Adoptees
Overseas Koreans Foundation (OKF)
KAHI members may contact the leadership committee for more information about these resources or other issues related to birth family search.
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