Monday, October 15, 2012

More Babies Being Abandoned due to the New Laws

I saw this news as soon as I blogged about witnessing the Space Shuttle Endeavor, and just had to follow up with another blog as this is such an important bit of news.  I have stated in the past that the new adoption laws in Korea will certainly drive more birthmothers to choose to abandon their babies as the new law requires the birthmothers to register the newborns under birthmothers' family registry, so the record can be kept for the babies as they may get adopted later.

The new law is starting to backfire as more and more children are being abandoned or discarded in many instances.  Here is the story of a pastor, the Pastor Lee, Jong Nak of the Joosarang Church, who has set up a “Baby Box”, where birthmothers can drop off their newborns without questions.  More and more babies are being abandoned at this Baby Box.

Please visit an article by Reuters on this story at:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/world/South+Korea+adoption+means+more+abandoned+babies+pastor/7356635/story.html

Also, view the video of the Pastor Lee and his work as his facility has rescued many babies.  I will be traveling to Korea early November and plan to visit the Pastor Lee, an angel who really represents the best of the Christian spirit.




17 comments:

  1. Would it be possible for us to visit this pastor when we travel to pick up our daughter? Is he in Seoul?

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  2. God Bless Pastor Lee! It is disappointing to hear that the new adoption law has backfired in this way, so sad. It seems like the effects of the new regulations, although I understand why they are needed, only cause more hardships for the children.

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    1. I don't believe this adoption law has backfired. Birth mothers will be choosing to abandon their children instead of placing them for adoption. Abandoned children will not be eligible for adoption. Thus, they will be decreasing international adoption by default. That is exactly the intention of the Korean government - significantly decrease children going to homes outside of Korea. Never was the law intended to make the process easier for Birth Mothers to get assistance nor was it to help children to find stable, loving homes. I'd say that more children in orphanages in Korea means the law is rousing success. It’s not the first country to sacrifice its most vulnerable to maintain an illusion of nationalism.

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    2. Thank you. I completely understand your frustration.

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  4. As being one of the first adoptive parents who have finalized the adoption under the new law, I would agree with this pastor's argument that the new law certainly has created more barriers in terms of adoption. I had to deal with a lot of discrimination and unhelpful government workers along the process, even when I had the court approval. I was interrogated at many government offices and even accused of taking a Korean child away from Korea.(I'm a Korean American living in Korea ) I cannot even imagine what those unwed parents would have to endure in order to legally place their kids for adoption.

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    1. Jenn were you just approved by court?

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    2. Dear Jenn,
      Thanks for sharing your experience. If everyone, especially those of authority in Korea, and those who are strongly anti-adoption like Rev. Kim of KoRoot, would look at the needs of children from their perspective rather than only looking from the interests of birthmothers, then all this mess would be so simple. I believe that is why Jesus said that unless your heart becomes like one of these children you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3)

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    3. My adoption was submitted right when the new law took into effect and was approved on September 25th. My adoption was legally called an "overseas adoption dobe domestically by non Korean citizens".

      I remember the voices of the children at the orphanage. one specifically asked me why I didn't take him instead of my daughters, or why I couldn't take him along with the other two. There are 80 kids in that orphanage. the new director just told me she would no longer support adoption although she believes the kids wwould be much better off with their family. She also told me I am not a "real" mom of my daughters. This is a welfare facilities categorized national top 2%. This is where the Korean family law is standing right now. Long ways to go.

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    4. We are adopting from Eastern. What orphanage did you adopt from? We love love to visit and bring things they may need when we go pick up our daughter.

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  5. Steve any word on EP movement yet? We are a part of the 10% and are praying for news this week so our daughter can come home hopefully before Christmas.

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  6. Sorry... Am I wrong in my understanding that under the Law now, if a mother abandons her child then the child CANNOT be adopted?

    Or did I miss something?

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    1. The new law allows a child to be adopted even if a birthmother abandons the child. If the child was relinquished by the birthmother, then the child can be placed for adoption. If the child is not relinquished right away and is registered in birthmother's family registry, and later the mother abandons, the child must waith three years to be eligible to be adopted unless the birthmother stayed in touch with the child during that time.

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  7. Aren't the child be suffocated once the door is closed?

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  8. It's all well and good to consider the rights of the birth mother, however, the majority of mothers do not return for their babies. So the laws must come down to what is best for the babies and personally the sooner a baby is placed in a stable environment with loving parents and can begin a life surrounded by loving family and not strangers is far healthy emotionally for these babies rather then waiting for a year or two before being sent home to their permanent parents. The bonding process for baby and parents is difficult enough. Every month that passes just makes it more difficult.

    I feel that the laws have a responsibility to and must put the babies first. That seems to be the main obstacle that is preventing this process from working in the best interest of the babies.

    For a Country that shuns unwed mothers and their children, that Country is sure making it more difficult to let these young women move on with their lives.

    Is there anything that perspective parents can do to help change this new process?

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