Check Here For Updates: The Current State Of Birth Family Search By Korean Adoption Agency.
Changes are happening fast in the world of birth family search.
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UPDATE - July 23rd, 2025:
After July 19th, 2025, it is no longer possible to make requests for a birth family search or adoption documents through your Korean Adoption Agency (in Korea).
ALL birth family search requests by ALL Korean Adoptees must be submitted to NCRC via the KAS website.
KSS and ALL Korean Adoptees:
Please refer to the IMPORTANT DROPDOWN MENU on our homepage titled:
”DROPDOWN: AFTER July 19th, 2025, ALL Birth Family Search Requests Must Be Processed Through NCRC/KAS”:
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UPDATE — July 22nd, 2025:
ADOPTION CERTIFICATES - NCRC Will Accept Applications From July 19th, 2025 — Via Email!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT —NCRC Partners With Nest: “Support For Visits To Korea And Reunions With Birth Families” A Program For Overseas Adoptees
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UPDATE - June 29th, 2025:
KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptees, Please See:
NEW! Step By Step KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptee Birth Family Search
Now More Than Ever, Safely Back Up Any Documents You Have Which Contain Birth Parent Information
IMPORTANT Info For KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptees With Interest In Search After July 19th, 2025
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UPDATE — June 15th, 2025:
Please note that it is now TOO LATE to submit a birth family search through your Korean Adoption Agency.
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ALL Korean Adoption Agency files move to the Korean Government Agency NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child) on July 19th, 2025.
After July 19th, 2025, ALL birth family search requests by Korean Adoptees from around the world will have to go through NCRC.
NCRC has recently moved to a new location in Seoul at the end of February 2025.
Related:
“NCRC Secures Adoption Records Preservation Facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province”
After ALL Korean Adoption Agency files move to the Korean Government Agency NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child) on July 19th, 2025, Korean Adoptees will have to submit birth family search requests through the
KAS (Korea Adoption Services) website:
https://www.kadoption.or.kr/en/
Please monitor the "Starting July 19th, 2025, ALL Birth Family Search Requests Must Be Processed Through NCRC/KAS" DROPDOWN MENU on Paperslip.org for more information and updates, which we will post as they become available.
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Below are several relevant links to the state of Korean Adoptee birth family search as of March 15th, 2025.
*PLEASE NOTE — June 15th, 2025 was the last date that Korean Adoptees adopted through KSS and KWS / SWS were permitted to submit birth family search requests to their relevant Korean Adoption Agency.
It is no longer possible to submit a birth family search request directly to your Korean Adoption Agency.
Please see the information at the top of this page regarding the future of birth family search through NCRC via the KAS website after July 19th, 2025.
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Check Here For Updates: The Current State Of Birth Family Search By Korean Adoption Agency
The Current State of Birth Family Search
KSS (Korea Social Service):
IMPORTANT Info For KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptees With Interest In Search After July 19th, 2025
June 15th, 2025 appears to be the last date that KWS / SWS Adoptees could submit a birth family search request diretly to this Korean Adoption Agency.
Holt International and Holt’ Children’s Services Inc. in Korea:
Holt International and Holt Children’s Services Inc. in Korea Issue Separate IMPORTANT NOTICES
Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS) / Formerly Eastern Child Welfare Society (ECWS):
Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS / ECWS) Announces Winding Down of Post Adoption Services
Korea Welfare Society (KWS) / Formerly Social Welfare Society (SWS) / Formerly Child Placement Services (CPS):
June 15th, 2025 appears to be the last date that KWS / SWS Adoptees could submit a birth family search request diretly to this Korean Adoption Agency.
Korea Welfare Society (KWS) / formerly Social Welfare Society (SWS):
We assume that they are still taking birth family search requests and accepting in person file review requests in Korea. However, Paperslip does not regularly follow KWS / SWS news, so we cannot be sure. KWS / SWS Adoptees should join KWS / SWS forums on Facebook to keep up with relevant info. Please see:
Contact Info For The 4 Major Korean Adoption Agencies + Adoptee Facebook Groups:
Contact Info For The 4 Major Korean Adoption Agencies + Adoptee Facebook Groups
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NCRC:
IMPORTANT! New Changes Coming To NCRC in 2025 - Including NEW Address!
KAS:
Birth Family Search Requests Will Have To Be Submitted Through The KAS (Korea Adoption Services) Website After July 19th, 2025
DNA:
DNA Testing
FOIA:
FOIA
Paperslip Advisory Sessions:
NEW! Advisory Sessions - Free for KSS Adoptees | Paid for Non-KSS Adoptees
FREE Birth Family Search Assistance for KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptees ONLY:
If you are a KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptee, please reach out to paperslipadoptee@gmail.com for FREE birth family search assistance!
Thank you!