NCRC Still Lacks BOTH A Temporary AND A Permanent Building To Store Korean Adoption Agency Records.
Posted to Paperslip on April 9th, 2025
Some BOLDS and all red highlighting ours.
Translation via ChatGPT.
Paperslip Note:
For context, ALL Korean Adoption Agency files are slated to move to the Korean Government Agency NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child) starting July 19th, 2025. However, NCRC does NOT even have a permanent building yet to store these files, and indeed does not even seem to have identified a temporary storage facility! This is just a few months before the file transfer is meant to begin!
“[Q&A] Jung Ik-joong, Head of Korea's Child Rights Center (NCRC): "Pushing Again for Permanent Adoption Records Archive"
Published: April 8, 2025, 14:25
Last Updated: April 8, 2025, 19:03
On April 8, Jung Ik-joong held a press conference marking the 2nd anniversary of his appointment.
From July, the government will shift the adoption system from private to state-led.
Adoption records are being transferred, but this year’s budget was not approved.
A year into the anonymous birth (protected birth) system: 11 people withdrew their choice.
Crisis pregnancy counseling via "1308"—"We will enhance publicity."
[Sejong = NewsPim] Reporter Shin Do-kyung – On April 8, Jung Ik-joong, President of the Korea National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC), stated, "As we proceed with transferring adoption records, we plan to store them temporarily in makeshift archives. However, a facility for permanent preservation is necessary."
At a press conference marking his second year in office, held at 10:30 a.m. at the NCRC headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, Jung emphasized the need for permanent archival infrastructure.
Following the passage of the "Domestic Adoption Special Act" and the "Intercountry Adoption Act," the NCRC is pursuing the establishment of a dedicated adoption archive to manage related records. Last year, the NCRC and the Ministry of Health and Welfare requested budget allocation for this archive, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance rejected the proposal.
Jung explained, “The archive is important, but it requires a significant budget. As the record transfer progresses, we are identifying multiple potential sites that meet basic requirements to serve as temporary archives.”
He added, “Since these are temporary facilities, permanent preservation is not possible. We will continue our efforts to secure related budget this year. Even if my term ends, this will remain a key issue for the NCRC.”
Jung noted, “Korea was the first country where intercountry adoption took place on a large scale over a long period. Many adoptees seek their birth information, so preserving records and registering them as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage is part of our effort to ensure this history is not just Korea's, but the world’s.”
Q&A with President Jung Ik-joong:
- Will adoption records from private agencies be made public starting in July?
▲ The full survey is complete. The transfer will begin gradually starting July 19. However, we need time to organize the data, so we are asking overseas adoptees for their understanding.
- You previously said you'd wear your pin upside down until children are truly happy. Any progress?
▲ It’s still upside down. Slowly, we are turning it back around. There's still a long way to go. We’re doing our best to ensure children's rights are normalized. Despite this, there’s still much lacking. We continue to identify gaps through evidence-based surveys and statistics. I can’t give a percentage, but there is gradual improvement, and public interest is growing.
- How do you evaluate the first year of the Protected Birth System (since July last year)?
▲ The official name is the "Crisis Pregnancy Support and Protected Birth System." We’ve worked with counselors and staff to prioritize support that allows mothers to raise children within their birth families. Many crisis pregnancies involve vulnerable individuals, so we provide accurate information to enable in-family care. Last year, 63 chose protected birth, and 11 later withdrew. Protected birth isn’t final—we guide mothers to consider their options. We help ensure the child's right to know is communicated, especially to overseas adoptees, and we’re seeing increased attention and support. We are also helping local counseling centers focus on in-family care and better inform about children’s rights.
- What’s the process and precedent for withdrawing from protected birth?
▲ Withdrawal is possible until adoption is finalized. Some people initially didn’t know about available support and later said they gained the hope and courage to raise their child. We aim to expand post-support and guidance for parenting.
- What's the current status of the "1308" crisis pregnancy hotline launched last year?
▲ As of Dec 31, 900 people used the service, with over 3,000 consultations. Whether that number is high or low still needs evaluation. Promoting this number more widely is crucial—people need to remember "1308" in a crisis. It’s already known in hospitals and pharmacies, and we’re promoting it via social media. Still, information gaps remain, so we’ll continue improving.
- What support exists for children in vulnerable groups?
▲ The biggest threats to children in poverty are abuse and deprivation. Abuse cases receive more attention due to 3–4 monthly deaths, but poverty doesn't get enough focus. Through programs like Dream Start and local child centers, we provide support. The earlier we intervene for children in poverty, the more effective it is. Since last year, we've been focusing on identifying and supporting infants in vulnerable situations early. We’re also developing manuals for better infant case management.
- What is the focus of the 3rd Basic Plan for Child Policy?
▲ The Ministry of Health and Welfare will announce it. Among my proposals, the most important is legal reform related to children. The NCRC currently manages 9 projects, but there’s no proper delivery system in place across local governments. I proposed setting up regional NCRC branches or dedicated child protection teams in cities and provinces. I expect some of these suggestions will be reflected.
- Why change the name to "National Center for the Rights of the Child"?
▲ There are about 6,400 organizations in Korea with "child" in their name. Given our relatively low name recognition, adding “National” emphasizes our public role and accountability. Some may wonder why we’re changing the name, but it reflects our desire to do more for children’s rights.
- What happened with last year’s adoption records digitization mishap?
▲ The Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted an audit and, based on the findings, requested a police investigation. We asked for a re-evaluation, but haven’t received notification yet. Once the final result arrives, disciplinary proceedings will begin. We are steadily addressing public concerns.
Contact: sdk1991@newspim.com”