To all adoptees who think that intercountry adoption has robbed them of language, culture, birth families, and identity. That intercountry adoption has violated their human rights. Here are some excerpts from Julie Duvall, who was an aged-out orphan, adopted late, and now speaking for all the un-adopted orphans and the aged-out orphan youths in Korea through Love Beyond the Orphanage. Please spread this widely to other adoptee communities and beyond.
"Written by Julie Duvall who grew up in an orphanage: Personal Reflection on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Ruling on Intercountry Adoption
Lately, I’ve been wrestling with whether to share my thoughts on the recent ruling by Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which found both the government and adoption agencies guilty of malpractice—specifically, of falsifying adoption records by labeling children as “abandoned.” Many adoptees have reacted with feelings of betrayal, anger, and confusion. While I respect their emotions, I feel compelled to offer another perspective based on my lived experience.
As someone who grew up in an orphanage in Korea and later founded Love Beyond the Orphanage, I have dedicated nearly a decade to supporting aged-out youth—young adults who, like me, were never adopted. I know firsthand what life in an institution does to a child. I lived it. I watched countless others suffer through it. And I believe this critical context is missing from the TRC’s ruling.
First, let’s examine the scope. The TRC’s findings are based on an extremely narrow sample—just 0.03% of over 175,000 intercountry adoption cases. Yet the verdict paints all intercountry adoptions with the same brush, suggesting systemic wrongdoing without exploring broader causes or consequences. More troubling is the lack of attention paid to what happened to the children who remained in orphanages—their suffering, marginalization, and continued struggle.
1. The Harsh Reality of Institutional Life in Korea
No matter how modern Korea becomes, its Confucian values still prize bloodlines and family lineage. Children without parents—especially those raised in institutions—are often seen as second-class citizens. During the ’60s through the ’90s, orphans were routinely bullied, beaten, and ostracized—not just in orphanages, but also in schools, factories, and society at large. We were denied dignity, rights, and even our voices.
My own orphanage deprived us intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We were not allowed to express our thoughts or advocate for ourselves. Today, most aged-out orphans continue to suffer from delayed emotional development, mental health issues, and a lack of life skills simply because of where—and how—they were raised.
2. The Struggle for Identity
Yes, intercountry adoption involves separation from one’s birth culture. But it also grants something most orphans never receive: identity. Adopted children were given names, families, citizenship, and a sense of belonging. Today, adoptees can travel freely to Korea, reconnect with their heritage, and even find community among one another.
By contrast, aged-out orphans often live in silence and fear. Society still sees them only as “orphans”—not individuals. They often conceal their background, terrified of discrimination if the truth is discovered. Individuality is a privilege they’re not afforded.
Some adoptees claim their identity was stolen through adoption. But for most of us who aged out, our identity was denied from the start—and remains so.
3. A Lifetime of Disadvantage
I’m heartbroken when I hear stories of adoptees who faced abuse or discrimination in their adoptive families or communities. No child should go through that. But adopted children usually have access to support systems: families, counselors, communities, legal advocates—and each other. They have platforms to speak, organize, and seek change.
Orphans in Korea don’t have that luxury. Even today, many are subject to abuse—physical, emotional, even sexual—and remain silent because speaking out risks exposure, shame, and retaliation. The justice system often fails them. And no one rallies in the streets on their behalf.
When adoptees publicly condemn adoption and its institutions, it inadvertently jeopardizes the chances of other vulnerable children ever being placed in loving homes. Their voices matter—but so do the unheard cries of orphans still waiting for a chance.
4. The Search for Birth Families
Adoptees have opportunities—through DNA testing, government programs, and agency support—to seek out birth families. Aged-out orphans have fewer resources and options.
In either circumstance, many birth parents deny abandoning their children. Language barriers and missing documents make it difficult to challenge these claims. Based on my experience, many such denials are simply attempts to avoid guilt or social stigma. Especially in the '60s to '80s, poverty and societal pressures forced desperate choices.
A Call for Broader Accountability
I urge the TRC to conduct further investigations—not just into adoption, but into the systemic neglect and abuse that occurred (and continues) in Korea’s orphanages and group homes. Where are the aged-out orphans now? Especially the girls? Are they safe? Are they supported? Are they even alive?
When comparing the lives of adoptees with those who remained in institutions, the picture is clear. Most adoptees escaped the fate of institutionalized orphanhood—one of isolation, abuse, and social invisibility.
My Journey
I lived in an orphanage. I aged out. I was mistreated emotionally, physically, and mentally. I had no home, no money, no future. But at 23, I was invited to live with an American family who had already adopted three Korean children. They became my family, adopted me as an adult, and gave me something I never had—an identity beyond “orphan.”
Adoption changed my life. I am grateful. I now advocate for others who never had that chance. When I see young men battling depression or suicidal thoughts while living alone and unsupported, I’m reminded of the critical role a family—any family—can play.
To all adoptees: I honor your pain and your story. But please know, adoption saved lives too. Yours. And mine."
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