South Korea plans to phase out international adoptions by 2029, a move that resonates deeply with many adoptees in Denmark who seek answers about their origins and identity.
South Korea Announces an End to International Adoptions
South Korea’s government has declared that it will gradually end all international adoptions by 2029. The decision follows years of scrutiny over adoption practices and growing criticism that many children were separated from their biological families under questionable circumstances.
For Denmark, this decision holds special meaning. Over 9,000 South Korean children have been adopted into Danish families, making Denmark one of the countries with the highest number of Korean adoptees per capita. Many of them, like Gitte Mose, continue to search for their biological roots decades later.
Adoptees Still Searching for Their Origins
Gitte Mose was adopted from South Korea in 1982. She has spent much of her adult life trying to locate her biological parents, but records are limited and often inconsistent. She describes living with an enduring sense of something missing and believes that the loss of one’s personal history can leave lifelong questions unanswered.
South Korea’s decision to stop adoptions reflects a wider acknowledgment that past practices may have violated human rights. In October, the country’s president issued a formal apology, admitting that South Korea had failed to protect children and had infringed upon their rights during international adoptions.
For Gitte and many others, the government’s admission offers some comfort, but it also highlights how little access adoptees still have to key information about their origins. Many remain without answers about who they are or where they come from.
Findings Reveal Problems in Past Adoption Systems
A Danish report published last year by the National Social Appeals Board uncovered that many South Korean children sent abroad for adoption actually had families in Korea who never consented to their placement. The findings revealed that some Danish adoption agencies knew about these inconsistencies but chose to proceed regardless.
These revelations have fueled public debate in Denmark about the ethics and oversight of international adoptions. As a result, the Danish Social and Housing Ministry has paused all new adoptions since 2024 while experts evaluate how to rebuild a more transparent and ethical system.
For those exploring options on how to immigrate to Denmark, such policy reviews show how seriously the country now takes moral responsibility and human rights considerations in matters involving children and families.
Hope for Greater Transparency
South Korea emphasizes that the goal of ending international adoptions is to act in the best interest of children. While adoptees may not gain immediate access to their birth records, some hope that this policy change will eventually lead to broader openness about adoption documents and family histories.
For Gitte Mose, this hope brings peace of mind. She finds comfort in knowing that others may not have to endure the same uncertainty she’s faced. She believes that every person has a right to know their background and that the Korean government’s move could mark a new beginning for greater accountability and justice.
A Turning Point in Adoption History
The planned phase-out represents a major shift in how countries handle international adoptions. It acknowledges historical wrongs while trying to build systems that protect children and families more effectively.
In Denmark, the issue continues to raise questions about government oversight, transparency, and the emotional cost borne by adoptees who have lived most of their lives without knowing their origins. The discussion also ties into Denmark’s broader values around human rights, identity, and belonging—core principles that influence everything from social policy to immigration frameworks today.
As both South Korea and Denmark work to reshape their approaches, adoptees hope these changes will ultimately bring them closer to the truth about their past.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: How to immigrate to Denmark
The Danish Dream: Best immigration lawyers in Denmark for foreigners
DR: Gitte is happy South Korea will stop adoptions: You have a right to know where you come from
