Widespread Adoption Fraud Uncovered Among South Korean Adoptees in Western Countries, AP Investigation Reveals

Robert Calabretta, a 34-year-old adoptee, discovered that his adoption origin story was a lie when he met his birth parents for the first time. Investigations reveal that the adoption system in South Korea involved questionable practices that resulted in the exportation of about 200,000 Korean children to Western countries. Many adoptees, like Calabretta, have found out that they were not who they were told they were. The adoption industry was driven by a desire to meet Western demand and save costs for the South Korean government, leading to unethical practices such as children being kidnapped, parents being falsely told their infants were sick or dead, and documents being fabricated to give children false identities. The widespread issues in the adoption system have led to a reckoning within the industry, with European countries halting international adoptions and South Korea accepting a fact-finding commission. While many adoptions end well, it is difficult to assess the extent of fraudulent practices due to unreliable documents. The investigation also revealed that agencies and governments collaborated to keep the adoption pipeline running, with agencies paying hospitals for children and the Korean government designing laws to expedite the exportation of children. Adoptees like Calabretta, who feel they were stolen from their birth families, are seeking justice and reconnection with their roots. The documentary “South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning” sheds light on these issues and their profound impact on families and individuals.

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