Why Korea continues to export its babies
By Haesung Yang
Between 1960 and 1990, South Korea experienced high growth rates and rapid industrialization, emerging as one of the world’s largest
car maker and ship builder. But South Korea has forgotten that it has been exporting its children to foreign countries, especially the U.S.
According to one study (conducted by Tobias Hubinette), over 160,000 Korean children have been adopted in 15 western countries since the
Korean War. About 100,000 of them are living in the U.S.
International adoption from Korea, organized by western countries, began as part of a rescue mission from large-scale sexual
exploitation that occurred in the aftermath of the Korean War. Korea’s authoritarian regimes between 1961 and 1987 encouraged
international adoption in order to decrease the cost of institutional child care, creating Korean adoption agencies.
By early 1990s, newly democratized South Korea became a high-income OECD member with astonishing economic achievement.
Although South Korea no longer needs foreign help to rescue its children from the aftermath of the war, it still “exports” 2,000 children
every year. South Korea remains the leading global exporter of children. Why?
Recently, the New York Times reported that 90 percent of the South Korean children adopted abroad last year were born to unmarried
women. It also reported that “social pressure drives thousands of unmarried women to choose between abortion, which is illegal but
rampant, and adoption.” In general, it is considered extremely shameful for unmarried women to have a baby — a social norm shaped by
Confucianism.
In the late Choson dynasty (the last Korean monarchy, 1392-1910), the country developed its own Confucianism as the mainstream
ideology of the society. Emphasizing primogeniture, it brought changes in social order, especially the gender system.
Women’s status notably decreased. Women were no longer heirs and not allowed to perform in the ritual service for their ancestors.
Ultimately, women became subordinate to men. Choson Confucianism also emphasized female chastity. It was intolerable for unmarried
women to be pregnant. Women’s remarriage was considered shameful. Remarriage of women with children was extremely rare in the
society, while remarriage for men with infertile wives was common. Although the traditional Confucian value system has faded, it still
remains influential in the society.
Another reason for international adoption is the remaining Confucian idea of blood lineage. The Korean common saying, “blood is thicker
than water,” seems to explain how Korean people view adoption. In the Korean traditional Confucianism, an heir had to be from the family
bloodline because the spirit of a family can only be passed down through the bloodline. Korean society still emphasizes the importance of
bloodlines.
In addition to all the social pressures, another reason why unmarried women have to give up their children for adoption is due to the
financial burden as a single parent in the absence of government support programs. The government has neglected single mothers raising
children.
The issue, sometimes embarrassing for Korea in western society, remains largely ignored within the country.
Haesung Yang is Asian Wisconzine’s UW-Madison intern last Fall.
Between 1960 and 1990, South Korea experienced high growth rates and rapid industrialization, emerging as one of the world’s largest
car maker and ship builder. But South Korea has forgotten that it has been exporting its children to foreign countries, especially the U.S.
According to one study (conducted by Tobias Hubinette), over 160,000 Korean children have been adopted in 15 western countries since the
Korean War. About 100,000 of them are living in the U.S.
International adoption from Korea, organized by western countries, began as part of a rescue mission from large-scale sexual
exploitation that occurred in the aftermath of the Korean War. Korea’s authoritarian regimes between 1961 and 1987 encouraged
international adoption in order to decrease the cost of institutional child care, creating Korean adoption agencies.
By early 1990s, newly democratized South Korea became a high-income OECD member with astonishing economic achievement.
Although South Korea no longer needs foreign help to rescue its children from the aftermath of the war, it still “exports” 2,000 children
every year. South Korea remains the leading global exporter of children. Why?
Recently, the New York Times reported that 90 percent of the South Korean children adopted abroad last year were born to unmarried
women. It also reported that “social pressure drives thousands of unmarried women to choose between abortion, which is illegal but
rampant, and adoption.” In general, it is considered extremely shameful for unmarried women to have a baby — a social norm shaped by
Confucianism.
In the late Choson dynasty (the last Korean monarchy, 1392-1910), the country developed its own Confucianism as the mainstream
ideology of the society. Emphasizing primogeniture, it brought changes in social order, especially the gender system.
Women’s status notably decreased. Women were no longer heirs and not allowed to perform in the ritual service for their ancestors.
Ultimately, women became subordinate to men. Choson Confucianism also emphasized female chastity. It was intolerable for unmarried
women to be pregnant. Women’s remarriage was considered shameful. Remarriage of women with children was extremely rare in the
society, while remarriage for men with infertile wives was common. Although the traditional Confucian value system has faded, it still
remains influential in the society.
Another reason for international adoption is the remaining Confucian idea of blood lineage. The Korean common saying, “blood is thicker
than water,” seems to explain how Korean people view adoption. In the Korean traditional Confucianism, an heir had to be from the family
bloodline because the spirit of a family can only be passed down through the bloodline. Korean society still emphasizes the importance of
bloodlines.
In addition to all the social pressures, another reason why unmarried women have to give up their children for adoption is due to the
financial burden as a single parent in the absence of government support programs. The government has neglected single mothers raising
children.
The issue, sometimes embarrassing for Korea in western society, remains largely ignored within the country.
Haesung Yang is Asian Wisconzine’s UW-Madison intern last Fall.