A 70-year-old South Korean woman has filed a damage suit against her government, an adoption agency, and an orphanage over the adoption of her daughter, who was sent to the United States in 1976 after being kidnapped at age 4. This lawsuit, brought by Han Tae-soon, is the first known case of a Korean birth parent suing for damages against the government and an adoption agency over the wrongful adoption of their child.
Han's daughter, Laurie Bender, was reunited with her mother in 2019 after more than 40 years of searching. Han accuses the South Korean government of failing to prevent Bender's adoption and alleges that Holt Children’s Services, South Korea’s largest adoption agency, facilitated the adoption without verifying Bender's background. The Jechon Children’s Home, where Bender was placed after being reported missing, is also under scrutiny for not making efforts to locate her parents.
In her adoption papers, Bender was described as an abandoned orphan with no known parents, and she was sent to the United States under a new name in 1976. Han is seeking approximately $445,000 in damages and is supported by her lawyers in holding the government, adoption agency, and orphanage accountable for their roles in the adoption process.
The case sheds light on the questionable child-gathering practices that marred South Korea’s adoption program during the 1970s and 1980s. The lawsuit seeks to address the lack of proper child search procedures and the falsification of paperwork that led to the overseas adoption of thousands of Korean children.
This legal action follows a similar case involving Adam Crapser, the first Korean adoptee to sue the South Korean government and an adoption agency for mishandling his adoption to the United States. Crapser's lawsuit resulted in a damages award against Holt Children’s Services, highlighting the ongoing efforts to seek justice for those affected by irregular adoption practices.
The reunion between Han and Bender underscores the emotional toll of wrongful adoptions and the importance of rectifying past injustices. As the legal proceedings unfold, Han's quest for accountability serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of unethical adoption practices on families and individuals.
