However, I have to admit that the news media has contributed
to the number of abandonments at the Baby Box.
But there is a significant difference in the rationale advocated by the
anti-adoption organizations / MOHW/KAS and that of mine. Their motive for
blaming the media is that this is the only way they can explain the rise in the
number of abandonment to defend the Special Adoption Law, while I know the real
reason for the increase in the abandonment is due to the Special Adoption Law
that forces birthmothers to register their babies against their will. Also, there was a significant number of
abandonment at the Baby Box already in existence right after the law came into being
in August 2012. And the news media
flocked to cover this, not the reverse.
A birthmother who recently abandoned a baby at the Baby Box
left a note that said, “I was turned away from an adoption agency, and thought
about going through a black market type of adoption. But for the safety of the baby I chose to
come to the Baby Box. So we can learn
two things from this birthmother’s note.
The first is the awareness increase by the birthmothers that they have a
safe place to abandon their babies.
However, the second thing we can learn from the note is that many
birthmothers have tried to give up their children at adoption agencies, but
have been turned away (without a birth registry the agencies cannot accept the
babies for adoption). Some have even considered
some sort of black market type of adoption.
When they had nowhere to go they turned to the Baby Box.
To simply say that the number of children being abandoned at
the Baby Box is the result of media coverage, and that this media has helped to
plant the idea to the other birthmothers, only give the impression that the
group consisting of anti-adoption organizations and the Korean Government are
trying to wash over the serious flaws in the law. They should not make further mistakes by
trying to deny that there is flaw in the law.
The Korean government needs to acknowledge that the law is imperfect and
try to revise the law to correct it.
In that spirit the press conference held on February 19,
2013 with the Rep. Baik Jai Hyun at the National Congress with the ‘Committee
for the Revision of the Special Adoption Law’ is such an important step and a
good start. The committee consists of Pastor Lee, Jong Nak of the Baby Box, Mrs.
Han Youn Hee of MPAK, a celebrity named Mr. Chu Young Hoon, and a few others as well. This is also supported by all the adoptive
families, and over 500 churches and many organizations in Korea.
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| A celebrity Mr. Chu Young Hoon speaks at a press conference at the National Congress building, flanked by other members of the Committee for the Revision of the Special Adoption Law, led by Rep. Baik Jai Hyun (left of Mr. Chu) |
If everyone could put themselves in the voiceless children’s
perspective, they should do all they can to stop anything that endangers the
lives of children before we begin to argue about all the issues regarding them.
I hope that MPAK will continue to do everything it can and come
to the defense of all the voiceless children, as we have always been.
I am so saddened for these babies and birth others who are being put in impossibly agonizing situations. Hoping that all involved can focus on the best interest of the children. Blessings, Steve, for your ongoing commitment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, Steve. I saddens me greatly to see that people who should be looking out for the best interests of children are instead looking out for their own. I am praying that these individuals and organizations put their own interests aside, and make revisions that will serve the interests of all children in need.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question regarding the birth registries. Are Korean children also issued a birth certificate? As I understand it, the push for putting children on birth registries is to facilitate children finding their birth families, if they so choose. Couldn't this same goal be accomplished by requiring mothers to present agencies with birth certificates or another form of legal documentation?
I'm fascinated by this. The logic of the criticism is incredibly poor: in fact, there's a name for it: bifurcation, or the black and white fallacy. Is this really the ONLY reason for the increase? I think the first most obvious response to this criticism of the media increasing the numbers is "Of course, just not for the reason you think." Media coverage creates increased awareness of the option. These are women who would have never known this was an option, and perhaps gone on to parent the children in difficult circumstances, or for whom it would have been a life-altering decision (in a negative way) to register their babies. I cannot imagine the pain that preceeded every one of those babies being left. Now, thankfully, they have somewhere to go. A light in an otherwise dark place.
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve, your news update is very valuable.
ReplyDeleteYou mention a press conference held at the 19th of February. What was the topic of the conference? Was it just presenting the committee, or did they present any results of the committees work? As you see from my question I’m a little bit confused about the status of the committee :-)
Regards form overseas
The topic was to discuss and advocate for the need to revise the Special Adoption Law, and it should provide additional powers to make it happen. The committee members all shared their opinion on why the revision should be made.
DeleteSteve, as always, thank you for keeping us updated. As an adoptive parent with my child in foster care in Korea, do you have any information about when they will start to again allow EP's to the children assigned to homes abroad? It is my understanding that many children have been waiting an extended period and the court system is at a stand still. Will they ever let our children come home?
ReplyDeleteI am in the same position.... My adoption agency has had no news. We were expecting to bring our son home in September 2013 (1 year from match) but are adjusting our expectations to be ??? I'd love to hear any news. Thanks.
DeleteI know what is important to you folks, and I will try my best to provide some answers on another blog.
DeleteI love your last reply. You do know what is important to us and we are holding our breath until you write the blog that we are all anxiously awaiting. Thank you again for providing us information. We are all desperate to hear how and when things are going to happen, even if it is all slow in happening. We need reassurance that it is going to happen. Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteSteve, Can you talk about the purpose of the courts? Are they indeed going back to Birthmothers/fathers to verify relinquishment? Do you expect and increase in them rescinding the relinquishment? At what point in the process does this verification happen by MOHW or Courts? Can birthparents come back at anytime and claim the child back? I know of several instanced where BM came back to claim child (near 2nd birthdays) and families had been in process for 24 months or longer. Do you see this happening more and more? What is your opinion on that? Thanks for your insight as always.
ReplyDeleteJust happened to us. Her 2nd birthday is in March and we got our referral 18 months ago. The court contacted birthparents to resign the relinquishment and birth parents changed their minds and picked her up. We are devestated for us, but praying for birthparents to be successful. The whole process is just so hard for everyone involved. I don't think I would have pursued adoption from Korea had I known.
DeleteOh Karin.. I am so sorry. How horrible.
DeleteKarin, that is awful. I would think after a child has been referred to a family that wouldn't be possible anymore. After just having received our referral that is so disheartening to hear. So what happens for you next if you don't mind my asking. As heartbreaking as the situation is, do they try to remedy it by immediately giving you another referral and letting you "keep your place in line??"
DeleteHey Steve- this was on the opinion column from an adoptee and someone who doesn't agree with law change. What are your thoughts? http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2013/03/197_131272.html
ReplyDeleteIt's same rhetoric used by the anti-adoption groups consisting of TRACK, KoROOT, and the Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network (KUMSN), which the author volunteers her service. She is naive or is hiding a very important aspect from the article. It is true that if a child gets adopted his record will be erased from the birth registry. However, if he doesn't get adopted, the record stays intact, and there are many times of more children that are not adopted. This is what birthmothers fear. Also, she claims that media was the cause for the increase in the number of babies being abandoned at the Baby Box. That is partly true. However, it isn't just the Baby Box. It is all over Korea that babies are being abandoned. Orphanages have seen sharp increase in the number of babies being abandoned all over Korea. Anyone should be able to contact any number of orphanages and verify that this is true. I know, because I verified this with two orphanages I know. So it isn't just the baby box, although this place has seen four-fold increase in the number of babies coming into care, and the media played a role. But is this a bad thing? I don't think so. It lets many birthmothers know a safe place to abandon their babies rather than abandon them unsafely. They don't like the Baby Box because they blame that this will encourage more birthmothers to give up their babies. I say that any mother who gives up their children simply because they were encouraged is not fit to be a mother in the first place,and most likly abandon the baby sooner or later anyway.
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