Key findings from South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission reveal serious violations in the foreign adoption of South Korean children, including record fabrication and unauthorized consent. The commission's inquiry, which spanned nearly three years, lists at least 367 complaints tied to the unethical practices by adoption agencies.

The investigation, detailed in reports from The New York Times and Al Jazeera, highlighted a government-backed program that not only violated fundamental human rights but also neglected its duty in overseeing adoptions. Adoption agencies, often acting with substantial autonomy, committed widespread malpractices, including falsifying documents to make children seem adoptable by misrepresenting their backgrounds.

For decades, South Korea was the world's largest exporter of babies for international adoption, having sent over 140,000 children abroad since the Korean War, primarily targeting families in the United States and Europe. Many children were sent away under dubious circumstances—some labeled as orphans when they had known parents. Channel News Asia elaborated on allegations that adoption agencies sometimes substituted the identities of deceased infants to expedite processes.

Park Sun-young, chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stated that "numerous legal and policy shortcomings emerged," indicating a systemic failure that led to serious violations affecting not only the adoptees but also their birth parents. Concerns have been raised about the lack of oversight, with the commission's report prompting calls for an official government apology and the ratification of international conventions aimed at protecting the rights of adopted children.

Although some adoptees expressed dissatisfaction, citing insufficient acknowledgment of the government's role, the findings mark a critical step toward addressing the painful legacy of South Korea’s adoption practices. In a nation that has transformed remarkably since the post-war era, the revelations highlight both a dark chapter in its history and the ongoing plight of many adoptees who continue to seek acknowledgment and justice for their experiences.