Post-Adoption Resources for Korean Adoptees and Families
We stand committed to assisting Korean adoptees and families as they seek answers.
In light of the recent media coverage addressing Korean adoptions, we at Holt International want to acknowledge the many emotions that adoptees and adoptive families may be feeling — whether it’s frustration, anger, confusion, pain or grief. We hear you. We see you. And as many of us are also adoptees or adoptive parents, we are feeling these emotions as well.
We understand that these issues are complex, nuanced and bring about a lot of confusion. We have long advocated for adoptee voices and experiences to be elevated in the adoption community. And we stand committed to ensuring that adoptees’ perspectives are not only heard but validated.
We at Holt also stand committed to assisting Korean adoptees and adoptive parents with their questions. Here’s how we are helping:
- Holt staff will respond promptly to individual, personal inquiries to listen to concerns and help answer questions.
- There are no longer fees required to access your adoption records through Holt International.
- We will advocate with and support Holt Korea for improved response time to post-adoption inquiries – and to help Holt Korea better understand the adult adoptee perspective.
We are also implementing these longer-term changes:
- We will continue to consult with adult adoptees representing Holt’s board of directors, staff and the broader community to ensure adoptee perspectives are prioritized in Holt’s policies and procedures.
- We will advise and support Holt Korea and other Korean agencies as they provide services to adoptees.
- We will inform and educate the National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC) to better understand providing services relevant and responsive to adoptees.
- We will meet with members of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Assembly to insist the NCRC is adequately funded to provide the necessary staff who are educated, prepared and committed to providing post-adoption services. Read FAQs about the transition of post-adoption services to the NCRC in Korea.
Resources for Adoptees
Our post-adoption services team stands committed to serving all those whose lives have been touched by adoption. We recognize that relinquishment and adoption have lifelong effects. Our team seeks to better understand and address the unique and varied needs of the people we serve. If you are a birth parent, an adoptive parent, an adoptee or someone else affected by adoption, this is the place for you.
Additional Resources for Non-Korean Adoptees
Frequently Asked Questions
Read answers to frequently asked questions we’ve received from adoptive parents and adoptees regarding changes to post-adoption services in Korea happening in July 2025. Please contact our post-adoption services team at [email protected] if you have additional questions.
| Can an adoptive parent request a birth search on behalf of their minor child? | Adoptive parents cannot request a birth search on behalf of their child. In Korea, the legal age to request a birth search is 19. The adoptee must be the one to initiate a search. |
| Can an adoptive parent request a copy of their minor child’s Korean file? | Yes, an adoptive parent can request a copy of their minor child’s Korean file. However, we strongly recommend adoptees initiate the request for their own file once they reach adulthood (if they choose to). |
| Will my adoption records be lost or destroyed when services/files are transitioned to the National Center for the Rights of Children (NCRC) in July 2025? | We want to reassure adoptees and adoptive parents who are concerned about their file being lost or destroyed after the July 2025 transfer. The NCRC is a governmental institution and will permanently preserve all records that it receives. Records will be securely maintained. |
| After July 2025, will I still have be able to request my adoption file and/or request a birth search in Korea? | In July 2025, the NCRC will assume responsibility for all adoption-related services, including post-adoption services in Korea. Through the NCRC, you will still be able to request your file, request a birth search and request other post-adoption related services. Through Holt, you may still request a copy of your U.S. file at any time! |
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Post Adoption Services team at [email protected].
Did you know Holt provides support to all adoptees?
Every adoptee has a unique and complex life experience. Our team strives to support all Holt adoptees, by providing help with birth search, citizenship and more.