Adoption Information Disclosure service

Write Petition(EN) Write Petition(FR)

• · Based upon Act on Special Cases Conerning Adoption, Adoption Information Disclosure is a service which allows adoptees to request and obtain their adoption information from organizations such as National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC) and adoption agencies.

Request eligibility

• · Person who has been adopted under the Act on Special Cases Concerning Adoption
  * If an adoptee is a minor under the age of 19, he/she must obtain consent from his/her adoptive parents

Information to be provided

• · Information provided through Adoption Information Disclosure can be divided into two categories. First, adoptee can receive information of his/her own adoption background. Second, adoptee can receive information of birth parents’ under their consent.

[Information to be provided]

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

Request eligibility

FAQ

• Q. How is Adoption Information Disclosure service different between adoption agencies and NCRC?

  - 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.

• Q. How long does it take to receive the final result of Adoption Information Disclosure Service?

  - 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.

• Q. Can adoptees find other information about birth parents, such as phone number, etc., in addition to address?

  - 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.

• Q. Can adoptees find their relatives or other family members if the birth parents are deceased or cannot be found?

  - 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.

• Q. Can adoptees have access to birth parents' personal information on adoption records if birth parents are deceased or cannot be found?

  - When birth parents are deceased or their whereabouts cannot be verified, information of birth parents cannot be disclosed as consent is not gained.

• Q. If birth parents are deceased, can adoptees have access to the information such as cause of death and place of burial?

  - 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.

Request for Adoption Information Disclosure(write petition)

• · Required documents: Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure form,identification document
  (resident registration card,passport,foreign registration card,or other certificate(s) confirming the petitioner's identity)
• · If an adoptee is a minor:A letter of consent by an adoptive parent to petition for adoption information
  disclosure
  ※Download a Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure form and a Letter of Consent to Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure (to be completed by an adoptive parent): www.kadoption.or.kr

• 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

  Tip)

  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.)

  Tip)

  In the Petition for Adoption Information Disclosure form,check items excluding
  "Personal Information on Birth Parents."