Adoption Waits Lengthen After Shift to Public System

Although the government transitioned to a public system last year to strengthen adoption management and support, reports from the field indicate that waiting times for prospective adoptive parents are growing longer. The adoption process, previously handled by private organizations for about 70 years, shifted to a government and local authority-led public system in July of last year. While the government and local authorities are now responsible for decisions, counseling, and approvals, critics point out that work processing has slowed down since the system's implementation.

Adoptive parent Im Eom-nam stated that he considered adopting a second child but had to give up due to complex procedures and the extended waiting period. He cited a lack of specialized institutions in the Gangwon region and difficulties with post-adoption support as reasons for abandoning the adoption plan.

The first review by the Adoption Policy Committee, which deliberates on child adoptions, was held at the end of last year. There is only one specialized agency responsible for home investigations, and it lacks a branch in Gangwon Province, leading to delays in processing adoption applications and other procedures. Since the public system was launched, only one out of approximately 40 families has completed an adoption match.

Noh Hye-ryeon, an emeritus professor of social welfare at Soongsil University, commented, "Preparations for the transition should have been more thorough and swift." She added, "Prospective parents need to engage with various institutions and navigate the procedures together, which is difficult in a fragmented situation." Experts advise expanding counseling support organizations nationwide and accelerating the training of specialized personnel to improve accessibility for families hoping to adopt.