NCRC adoption file reviews & birth family search
To commence a birth family search, Korean adoptees must register and lodge a request via NCRC's website.
Previously, it was possible to request a search for birth family via the Australian State Government agency that facilitated the adoption however since all our original files were transferred from Eastern Social Welfare Society to NCRC, we must make the request directly.
In order to submit a birth family search request or seek any type of appointment in Korea with NCRC, you must register and raise an adoption disclosure request as the first step.
https://www.kadoption.or.kr/home/eng/main.do
Once you've created an account, navigate to the "Adoption Information Disclosure"
There are an overview of the process here.
https://www.kadoption.or.kr/home/eng/contents.do?menuPos=7
Navigate to the "apply" page
https://www.kadoption.or.kr/home/eng/adoption/application.do?menuPos=8
Complete then online form. You have the option of selecting option to request birth parent information, which if selected, will trigger a request for NCRC to search for them.
We suggest selecting disclosure method: electronic file and method of receipt: Information and Communication Network (email etc) if you'd like a digital copy of the results of your request, which will typically include your adoption file records.
Complete the remainder of the form then click "Sign" in the bottom right. It will export a copy of the form to print and sign. It must be hand-signed.
Scan the hand-signed form and upload here:
Complete the rest of the fields and click submit. You're done!
You can check the status of your request here:
Booking an adoption file review appointment in Korea
Previously we could request an appointment at Eastern, to have a case worker show us our adoption file (the sections were allowed access to. Any pages with identifying information of birth family are withheld from us unless the birth family gives consent).
Now that our files and post adoption services are sole responsibility of NCRC, the process has changed.
Via the website above, you can make an appointment reservation. However, you must request an adoption information disclosure prior to arriving at your appointment. Ideally well in advance, so NCRC have time to locate your file and prepare it ahead of your visit.
As outlined on NCRC's website, there are two types of reservations available:
https://www.kadoption.or.kr/home/eng/reservation/kadoption.do?menuPos=15
1. Temporary adoption records archive
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Access: You can view the original documents.
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(*Please note that you cannot touch them directly to prevent any potential damage.)
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Consultation: Detailed consultation or counseling is less likely to be available.
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Location: Situated on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do (outside of Seoul), which may make it more difficult to commute to.
2. NCRC office
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Access: You will view and take home scanned copies, not the originals. *our experience is that they will also issue a digital copy*
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Consultation: You can have a detailed consultation and ask any questions you may have.
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Location: Located in the middle of historic Seoul with easy public transport.
Depending on the case worker you are assigned, it may be recommended to you to bring a translator. Organisations like GOAL or Adoptee Ties may be able to assist with adoption-informed translators.
Frequently asked questions:
What's the difference between a request with NCRC and Eastern Social Welfare Society?
In 2025 following a change in legislation, all adoption files were transferred from all adoption agencies to NCRC. NCRC are now the central authority responsible for all post-adoption requests, including adoption file recovery requests, appointments to review your adoption file in person in Seoul, and birth family search.
Can the Australian government still help me?
The State Government agency that facilitated your adoption should still be offering support services, which differs State by State. However, they can no longer raise a request for birth family search on your behalf. You must initiate the request yourself, via the NCRC website.
How long does it take for my request to be processed?
As at Sept 2026, we're hearing of processing times of up to 9 months due to unprecedented volumes of requests. However, if you are visiting Seoul and would like to make an in-person appointment, NCRC will generally try to prioritise the processing of your request (at least in terms of providing access to your adoption file.
If I'm visiting Korea can I just rock up to NCRC and make an on-the-spot request?
No. This worked with some success while Eastern held our adoption files, however our files are now held in an offsite storage facility.
I previously got my adoption file from Eastern or via my Australian State Government agency. Is it worth requesting my file again via NCRC?
We have observed that NCRC are releasing more pages than we've previously been granted access to. Multiple adoptees have reported receiving a copy of the handwritten intake notes when we were relinquished. If it exists, NCRC are also releasing the consent form the birth mother or relinquishing family member signed at the time. The intake notes may contain additional information about biological family, and may also help verify accuracy of background information.
I have previously search for birth family via Eastern or my Australian State government agency. Is it worth trying again via NCRC?
The odds are not better than they were previously. NCRC should have record of previous birth family search attempts, Eastern were required to hand over to records of past post adoption service requests from the adoptee. If a new birth family search is requested via NCRC, they will conduct the same process as Eastern previously did.
During a file review appointment in May 2026, an adoptee asked the case worker what their success rate was in reuniting adoptees with family. The case worker advised they had processed about 80 cases so far, and reunited 10 adoptees with family. However, these were all first time requests (the adoptees had never searched for birth family previously). The case worker advised they had zero success rate with adoptees who have already attempted previously.
This is not to deter adoptees from trying again, but just setting expectations that NCRC only perform the same methods of birth family search as Eastern previously did.
A recent personal experience with post adoption services in Korea:
Nov 2025: Submitted the online request to NCRC for adoption file disclosure
May 2026: Received digital copy of adoption file
May 2026: Adoption file review of original documents at the NCRC temporary archive
Aug 2026: Received outcome of birth family search request
Other measures taken:
May 2025: Submitted a DNA test at Jongno police station to register on the Korean police's missing persons database in the hope of finding a biological match.
July 2025: Received notification no matches were identified.
May 2026: Visited the regional police station from where his birth mother was originally from (according to the adoption file), to lodge a missing persons request.
If you have a birth parent's full name and year of birth (or age to determine year of birth) you can lodge a missing persons request at a police station. A translator is required in most cases. If police accept the request, they will then attempt to contact all individuals who match those details. Every active Korean citizen can be identified by name and year of birth, and have a unique Korean resident number with contact details that police can access.
July 2026: The police advised the search was unsuccessful, via email.
Notes:
Following the in-person file review in May, the case worker validated his birth mother's name and year of birth. They also confirmed the birth mother was living and working in Seoul at the time of birth, although they were originally from a regional town (which was recorded in the adoption file).
When the adoptee took these details to the regional town's police station to lodge a missing persons request, the officer on duty was uncertain of process and needed to seek advice. They called the next day (in Korean) and advised that since the adoptee had already lodged a DNA test, they were not eligible to lodge a missing persons request. The adoptee can only request a DNA registration, or a missing persons search. Not both. The police advised the adoptee could request the missing persons search if they retracted their DNA submission.
In weighing up probabilities, the adoptee decided to retract their DNA submission. The police accepted the request and would call back with further advice.The police called back the next day and advised to not worry about retracting the DNA submission. The adoptee's guess is that the police couldn't work out how to actually do it. The police initiated the search and obtained an outcome within about 2 months.
Disclaimer: This is just one person's experience and individual experiences may differ case by case.