South Korea Relaunches Adoption Fraud Probe

South Korea has relaunched its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the third in its history, to investigate past human rights violations, with a significant focus on the extensive fraud and malfeasance within its historic foreign adoption program. The commission will inherit over 2,100 unresolved complaints and accept new cases until February 25, 2028. This initiative follows an interim report by the previous commission that concluded the government bears responsibility for a program riddled with abuse, driven by efforts to reduce welfare costs. Investigations by The Associated Press and Frontline (PBS) have also highlighted how South Korea's government and Western nations facilitated adoptions through corrupt means. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued an apology, and the government plans to phase out foreign adoptions by 2029. The United Nations has expressed concern over South Korea's failure to ensure truth-finding and reparations. Adoptee groups, such as the Danish Korean Rights Group led by Boonyoung Han, are actively submitting new cases.