KAS Supports Adoptees And Their Familiesfor Their Rights And Interests to be protected
Category | Description | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Adoption background information | Adoption date, reason for relinquishment, age of the birth parents at the time of adoption, birth name of adoptee and time of birth, etc | Provided upon request for Adoption Information Disclosure (Information included in records can be provided) |
Information of birth parents | Name, date of birth, address and contact information of birth parents at the time of adoption | Available only when birth parents consent to disclose |
- NCRC and adoption agencies have the same process to provide the service. However, as adoption agencies handled the adoption process firsthand, they have the original adoption documents. Therefore, adoptees who request Adoption Information Disclosure for the first time or wish to see the original adoption documents should use the service provided by adoption agencies.
- NCRC is an agency affiliated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, have adoption information collected from now defunct adoption agencies. Also provide Adoption Information Disclosure service when adoptee requests for the second time.
- The applicable law states that adoptees shall receive the result within 45 days from the application submit. However, it may take longer than 45 days as locating birth parents and obtaining their consent to release information can take extra time.
- Due to Korea's strengthened personal information protection regulations, it is not possible to check information other than the address of a birth parent’s registered resident information.
- The Act on Special Cases Concerning Adoption currently allows information disclosure only for birth parents. Therefore personal information of birth parents can only be searched. There are no legal grounds to search personal information of other relatives or related persons, and etc.
- When birth parents are deceased or their whereabouts cannot be verified, information of birth parents cannot be disclosed as consent is not gained.
- NCRC can only verify whereabouts of birth parents. Such information including cause of death and place of burial is not a kind of information NCRC can approach.
1) If an adoptee desires to check his/her adoption information
(excluding personal information on birth parents at the time of adoption)
The adoptee may check the details of his/her adoption documents.
The document may be perused and copies maybe provided
In the Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure form,check items excluding
"Personal Information on Birth Parents."
2) If an adoptee desires to check personal information on birth parents at the time of adoption and make contact and/or conduct a reunion
The Korea Adoption Services or an adoption agency verifies the birth parents' consent to disclosure of adoption information. (Personal information on birth parents will be disclosed only if the information is verified.However,the birth parents may refuse to disclose their personal information.)
In the Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure form,check items excluding
"Personal Information on Birth Parents."