There has been many accusations on the internet that Adoption Agencies have profited in the Huge Adoption Industry. Why it is counted as a 1.5 Billion Dollar Business, with claims by some that Baby-Stealing is rampant. Certainly there are cases, far too many, of unscrupulous ‘middle-men’ making profit on ‘finding’ babies for adoption in several countries. The news accounts online are full of different countries shutting down adoption programs because of the uncovering of these gross irregularities.
Yes, even in Korea there have been some cases of mistakes, wrong birthdates or 2 birthdates on documents, claims of ‘abandonment’ that turned out to be incorrect, etc. The numbers of such cases are few in comparison with the overall total; BUT not for those who find out that the “story of Abandonment” might not be true.
Even ONE case ought not to be. It seems to be more difficult for many European Korean Adoptees to grow up in societies that on the outward appearance seem to be "Color-Blind" but are still in progress on social acceptance of those deemed "Different". Tobias Hubinette recently posted this on Sweden, one of the most progressive of countries, on laws protecting rights of all, but this study shows that in day to day living Asians/Middle Eastern/African/Others all have various degrees of racial prejudice.
To be Non-white in a Colour-Blind Society.pdf (127KB
Even ONE case ought not to be. It seems to be more difficult for many European Korean Adoptees to grow up in societies that on the outward appearance seem to be "Color-Blind" but are still in progress on social acceptance of those deemed "Different". Tobias Hubinette recently posted this on Sweden, one of the most progressive of countries, on laws protecting rights of all, but this study shows that in day to day living Asians/Middle Eastern/African/Others all have various degrees of racial prejudice.
To be Non-white in a Colour-Blind Society.pdf (127KB
Again it seems that Laws alone do not change Hearts. Latent prejudice is only just below the surface, simmering like a caldera of molten lava, waiting to erupt. The Los Angeles Riots in the early '90s is a perfect example of racial bias turning into attacks based purely on ethnic groups, as Blacks turned on Korean business owners in South Central.
Each story must be investigated and determined if mistakes were made, or if there was deliberate falsifying of documents for meeting quotas and making profits. It is difficult to do in each case because some of mankind is inherently evil and seeks profit where ever they can.
TRACK is an organization looking into these cases, and the KWB supports them and is a member of both TRACK and ASK Adoptee Solidarity for Korea. Post Adoption Services are now being done to help aid the thousands of Adoptees who are returning and looking into their past.
Woman who arrange marriages (Matchmakers) called 중매쟁이 or Joong Mae Jaengi also connect unwed mothers with infertile couples through legal but secret adoptions. The Dutch couple were a terrible example of this practice. Here , here, or here. Can we say then that ALL domestic adoptions are BAD? Of Course not, but “some people’s children” would use the “same brush to paint” an ugly example as the NORM.
Have some adopted children been murdered by their adoptive father? Yes And did another one kill her adoptive daughter, well, yes. here. There are other chilling stories of Adoptive Parents sexually molesting their own adopted child. BUT shall we blame adoption for the cause?
Many checks on families are done, but if there is NO police record of arrest even a Pedophile can slip by. The KWB WAS totally against “Same sex adoption”! He had seen children turned into Lesbians and Gays, raised in Filipino homes where homosexuality was the norm. To allow a child to be adopted into that is WRONG.
(BUT then, there is some cases in Korea, such as a famous clothing designer who adopted a SON and he turned out okay. Over the years the KWB has even become great friends with some gays and lesbians, some currently practicing and some trying to "quit being gay". His views on gays and lesbians adopting children is being tested, and the jury is still out, perhaps it is better to be loved in a Same-sex marriage than to be aborted, raised in institutional care, etc. Yes, the KWB has to consider even this, to be fair and balanced.)
So, shall we then say that it was Adoption at fault? Life is full of problems and challenges, he does not want to minimize anyone's story. Suffering in life is not just due to being adopted; there is Divorce, death of parents, siblings, loss from disease, and smorgasbord of terrible things that afflict mankind in this life.
Abused sometimes become Abusers
When the KWB was counseling at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship he heard first hand stories of rape, beatings, physical and emotional abuse, people listening to ‘voices inside’ telling to ‘cut out their babies eyes because a demon was inside’ the baby. There was no end to stories of sufferings endured by men and women, when they were but young children.
Victims of sexual crimes are deeply affected throughout their lives, whether their abuser was of the same-sex or opposite sex. Some become sexually promiscuous with those of either sex. Sometimes a few of them became the Abusers and predators. Pedophiles are reviled by the public, yet the facts are that 100 percent of Pedophiles were themselves sexually molested as children. Most do not intend violence towards their victims, in their own minds they are "giving love and affection" to young children.
Korean society's views on Adoptees-Damaged Goods
BUT it becomes in Korea another reasons for 'many' Koreans to Fear, mistrust, or hate, those who ‘must have something wrong with them’ to be given up for adoption. This is the Korean majority point of view from children to adults toward the issues of Adoption. Adoptees have “something wrong with them” is a typical belief. Korean Media supports these wrong beliefs, and the horror movie "Orphan" did not help at all!
Over the next few posts The Korean War Baby will look over these controversial issues. First, let us look at just the recent records of the KWB adoption agency, Holt International Children’s Service.
(Please look HERE for complete online magazine)
spring09.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Click on to enlarge
Holt International Online Magazine/Spring09_pg 4
Page 4 Close up on 2007/2008 Financial Highlights
Page 4 Close up on 2007/2008 Financial HighlightsSHOCKING!!
Please note that in 2007
| Total Revenue | $19,240,847 |
| Total Operating Expenses | $ 18,883,395 |
| Balance | $357,452 |
They earned a whopping profit of $357,452
Oh, the Horror! Money made for selling babies to terrible people who want to get a Slave, why they might sell them to pedophiles or lock them in dungeons...
HELLO! DOES THIS SOUND LIKE STUPID LOGIC? OVER THE TOP, INSANE? OUTRAGEOUSLY FALSE ACCUSATIONS?!!
Well it IS. Please look at the figures for 2008, after the effects of the global downturn. Let’s do the math again. (Double-check me)
| Total Revenue | $19,759,754 |
| Total Operating Expenses | $21,233,763 |
| Balance | Minus $1,474,009 |
HERE IT IS FOLKS, THE EXPOSE OF THE 21 CENTURY, Holt International made a profit, OH, NO…a LOSS in 2008…Hmmm. What up with that? Thought they were making the bucks?
Let’s look at the MONEY TRAIL. Where did they Spend all that money?
Holt Intl. Annual Report 2008
34,295 | Children served in all programs |
10,561 | Families served in all countries (USA not included) |
717 | Children placed with Domestic families of their Birth Country |
818 | Children placed with US adoptive Families |
218 | Waiting children placed with adoptive families |
40,931 | Total accumulated number of children placed by Holt with US adoptive families 1956-2008 |
Well there you have it, exposed by the KWB, at least one of the four major Adoption Agencies in Korea has been shown to NOT BE PRO-FITTING IN BABY TRAFFICKING!!
Let’s all get a GRIP and check out the facts before making Blanket statements or accusations.
Let’s work together to stop abuses, correct the mindset of Korean people on Adoptees and Adoption. Help urge the government support women who want to keep their child, whether unwed mothers or divorced women with children. Many positive things can be done if we work together.
KWB,
ReplyDeleteThe 2007 annual report shows that revenue exceeded expenses by $357,457 as you explained, however, but using that number soley (for 1 year) to prove Holt is not profiting from adoption is myopic. The adoption fee is the largest revenue generator and in addition to that, Holt has built up assets over the years. 2008 showed a net loss maninly due to a loss in investments and there were not adjustments made to the expenses in anticipation of or to counteract that loss.
Holt is an adoption agency making money from adoptions and I believe no one could dispute that fact. Possibly what you are trying to say is that you dont believe that the majority of Holt adoptions are not done with malicious intent, illegally, purposely misleading or wrongfully. This is a belief rather than a fact found on their balance sheet. The money trail cannot prove the morality of their work...only how they manage the money.
You know I only have Godly love for you and I respect your beliefs, however, I do believe that it is a factual statement that adoptions agencies profit from adoptions as this is their business. Additionally, recognizing that adoptions agencies profit from adoptions does not necessarily mean all children are obtained illegally or wrongfully or that adoption is not a viable solutions. Realizing the mistakes made in the past and the possibly motivations though is necessary in order to make positive changes.
I know you want the very BEST for Korea and support your efforts! Your dedication and passion to improve the Korean laws and practices will make a difference!
HI KWB! Enjoy reading your blog! We just got back from Korea, and I'm so tired. Actually, the opposite of tired since it's 5 a.m... but it's just the jetlag. Humph.
ReplyDeletebtstorm2006,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is only two years, so yes it is myoptic. The adoption fees seem to be only part of the revenue, and we must remember that the Domestic Adoptions do 'pay less' much less. I DO dispute the fact that Holt makes profit and eagerly wish to hear from anyone with more proof.
One point I am looking at is that Holt placed quite a few Domestic adoptions (717 in Birth Country) vs. 818 in US families. Then 34,295 Children in all programs plus 10,451 Families served. The more I look into the programs, I see more than "Baby Trafficking". Holt was one of the first to place domestic adoptees and encourages openness (telling the child that they were adopted).
I also "love you in the Lord" and respect your beliefs, follow your journey (Please click on btstorm2006 and you will go to KAD to KAD for a gut-wrenching first-person experience).
Is it really "factual statement that adoptions agencies profit from adoptions as this is their business."? What does it mean "profit from adoptions"? Any NGO or group trying to help such as World Vision, Feed the Children, UNESCO, other UN organization MUST operate like a business.
As someone who tried IVF In vitro fertilization with his first wife and failed 3 times the KWB and his spouse had to then consider the next option. Adoption does fill the needs and desires of the 20% of couples who have trouble having a child. Some make it seem that ALL adoptions are to fill the infertile couples. That is not the case, as many Adoptive Families have taken children in addition to their own.
One of the inconvenient truths are that babies are still "Given up" for many reasons at all ages, and the "demand" is not always just for infertile couples. Every year Special Needs children are adopted outside of the arbitrary quotas set on ICA because they are not wanted by most Koreans. Also, some half-breeds like the KWB are born and find themselves abandoned.
What the KWB would like to see is more facts and figures on the 1.5 Billion dollar Adoption Industry. Any links? Welcome all facts, rumors, links, suggestions and criticisms. Thank you for your comments.