Article about adoption in the Korea Herald, dated February 13, 2011:
Despite a falling birth rate here, many Korean children are still finding their home abroad, a report found Sunday.
Of the total 2,439 children adopted in 2009, 1,125 were sent abroad, slightly down from 1,250 in 2008, the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs said.
Adoptions have declined here along with the country’s falling birth rate.
Over the past 10 years, the number of domestic adoptions has decreased from 1,726 in 1999 to 1,314 in 2009, while that of international adoptions has almost halved from 2,409 in 1999.
However, the ratio of international adoption still remains high despite the government’s efforts to encourage domestic adoption.
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As reasons for hesitating to adopt a child, according to the institute, 32.1 percent of Koreans surveyed said that they are not sure whether they can love and raise the adopted child like their biological one, while 29.5 percent cited the nation’s family system based on blood ties.
Parents also pointed out financial difficulties (11.9 percent) and social prejudice toward adopted people (11.4 percent), the institute said.
Due to the still prevalent belief that a son carries on a family line, girls younger than three were most favored for adoption, while boys, older children and those with disabilities were less preferred.
Most parents who have adopted a child also said that a child’s health, gender and age were their priority to consider.
I find it interesting that nearly a third of Koreans polled said they are “not sure whether they can love and raise the adopted child like their biological one.” If a similar study were conducted in the United States, I wonder what that number would be.
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Wow, great post. As for that fragment on “not being sure whether they can love and raise their adopted child like their biological one,” I am actually suprised that it was just the third. Still sounds like a lot, sadly. I also wonder what the numbers in the US would be. From my experiences (you know our situation), US is decades ahead in this aspect of social acceptance. Honestly, it makes me appreciate living in this society even more. For all our complaints and grievances about prejudice, insensitivity, ignorance, etc (and these are valid, and there’s work to be done here!), this is still arguably the most progressive society when it comes to adoptions.
I love your postings.
As Mom to both a biological and an adopted child I have been surprised how often I have been asked by friends if “it” feels the same. I think that even for progressive non adoptive families in the U.S. it can be difficult to understand adoption on all levels.
Sveta: I agree. In terms of acceptance and understanding of adoption, the US is arguably the most progressive society. But as Cindi says, we still have a long way to go.
One day at a time.
Thank you both for reading and commenting.
i feel like the tree that bends with the wind to remain alive, so too do adoptive families. trying to let all the mis-understandings roll off my mind is sometimes a challenge, but our family love becomes stronger. laughter also helps to alleviate problematic behaviors we run across in our day in day out lives. i mean who wants to argue with someone who is happy with the way life is?
Good analogy, Cynthia. I know you as an adoptive mother to two wonderful and loving nearly-adult children. Your family love inspires me.