top of page

Birth Family Search

KAIAN_BirthFamilySearch.jpg

Things to think about:

What prompts you to proceed the search at this time of your life?

  • General family information

  • Family traits and personalities

  • Medical history information

  • Circumstances of the adoption

  • Establish connection with birth family

  • Let birth family know you're okay

Things to think about

Potential outcomes

​The decision to commence a birth family search may bring up some complicated feelings. It's common for adoptee to think about it for years, before deciding to start the process. We've found it's helpful for adoptees to consider some potential outcomes to hold realistic expectations about potential outcomes of a birth family search. Some examples:

  • The Korean agency has insufficient information (i.e. no current contact details) to find any documented birth family. Our experience is that this, unfortunately, is the most common outcome.

  • Birth family is found and agrees to contact.​

  • Birth family is found but does not consent to contact 

  • The Korean agency informs you that that your birth mother or father has passed away.​

Step 1: Make contact

Step 1: Make contact

There are a few different contacts you can start off with in Australia or Korea. Most of these organisations will assign you a case worker to keep track of your information, act as a mediator and provide advice to you throughout the birth search process.

​

Australian State Departments (last updated 31/03/25)

Every Australian state has a department of human services which manages intercountry adoptions. Contact the state where you arrived when you first came to Australia. They generally will have a section of your adoption file from Korea and Australia court records of your adoption within their achieve.

 

 

Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS)

Most Korean adoptees sent to Australia were processed through the Eastern Social Welfare Society. ESWS historically offered post-adoption services however are in the process of handing this over the NCRC (see below), taking effect from July 2025. ESWS no longer provides post-adoption services.

 

National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC, formerly KAS)

NCRC is a Korean public institution that are responsible for the development and management for child policies in Korea. As part of any birth family search, contact is required with them to access or confirm birth-related information.

From July 2025, NCRC became responsible for post-adoption services for all Korean adoptees. 

Visit their website at National Center for the Rights of the Child.

​​

Revised Adoption Information Disclosure Request Procedure and Visit Reservation Guide

<<content being developed>>

​

Issuance of the “Adoption Certificate” for Adoptees: For Visa (F-4), Restoration of Nationality, etc.​

<<content being developed>>

​

​

Reminders for DNA testing for reunion service.

Can be submitted via a Korean police station or requested from Australia via the Syd/Melb/Bris Consulates or Korean embassy in Canberra (responsible for all other States/territories).

Biological family search through DNA testing for adoptees of unknown descent.pdf

​​

Support for visits to Korea and reunions with birth families.

New translation service and new reunion service partnership with Nest Korea.

​

​​​​​​​​​​

​Extra support:

In addition to the Korean-government run processes, it can be beneficial to seek support from not-for-profits based in Seoul who have relationships with the right departments, can communicate in Korean on your behalf and have significant experience supporting adoptee requests.

 

Global Overseas Adoptees Link (G.O.A.L)

G.O.A.L is an adoptee-led not-for-profit organisations based in Seoul and provides birth search support for adoptees both living in and visiting Korea. Visit G.O.A.L for more information.

bottom of page