The Convergence: An Imperfect Storm for Korean Adoptees.
Above — U.S. Korean Adoptees are sailing into the most IMPERFECT STORM. Many do not realize the inherent dangers of the years ahead as they relate to the pursuit of Korean Adoptee justice in the midst of the current U.S., Korean, and international landscape.
For anyone who’s been paying attention over the last few years, it’s been rough in these streets for Korean Adoptees. We wanted to WARN Korean Adoptees about the fast approaching IMPERFECT STORM of events for Korean Adoptees — particularly for U.S. Korean Adoptees who stand to potentially lose the most. To find out why we are so concerned, please read below.
The following events have buffeted the Korean Adoptee community like no other time in history:
The Second Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Republic of Korea (TRC 2) Investigation into Overseas Adoption.
While TRC 2 (2020-2025) encompassed far more victims’ groups than just Korean Adoptees, TRC 2 investigated Overseas Adoption for the first time, between 2022-2025. Of 367 cases, just 54 received judgments in 3 years of investigation, leaving 311 suspended. These cases must first be investigated during the upcoming TRC 3, which begins on February 26th, 2026 (more info. below).
The FRONTLINE / AP documentary, “South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning”, which was released on September 20th, 2024.
The documentary was part of a larger series which included print articles and an online interactive. The documentary and related series detonated many Korean Adoptees around the world out of the fog — at just the moment when ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files were about to move to NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child), starting July 19th, 2025.
The FIRST movement of ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files to the Temporary Storage Facility of the Korean Public Institution NCRC (National Center for the Rights of the Child), which began July 19th, 2025.
The transfer of files to NCRC was triggered by S. Korea’s ratification of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (or Hague Adoption Convention) on June 17th, 2025, which entered into force on October 1st, 2025. The Hague Adoption Convention stipulates the centralization of all adoption agency files under one government body. In S. Korea’s case, that meant NCRC.
We spent 15 months WARNING Korean Adoptees about the (then) coming transfer of ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files to NCRC. We have unfortunately been RIGHT about the dangers of NCRC possessing ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files, given NCRC’s and its predecessors’ decades long track record of being willfully incompetent, and of being deliberately underfunded and understaffed by the Korean Government.
The centralization of ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files under NCRC came “conveniently” at the same time that the TRC 2 investigation into Overseas Adoption was well underway. Now, in the immediate run-up to TRC 3, which begins on February 26th, 2026, the fact that the Korean Government has control of ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files through NCRC seems awfully convenient — at least for them.
The coming SECOND movement of ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files from NCRC’s Temporary Storage Facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do to the Seongam Branch of the National Archives — likely to happen in the first half of 2026.
This SECOND massive transfer of files entails the chemical treatment of ALL of the files for bugs — a process which is almost guaranteed to destroy specific types of documents in NCRC’s current possession. This SECOND transfer of files was triggered by a small group of activists who have essentially forced the needle to move from possible destruction of Korean Adoptees’ files to eminent destruction of some of them.
The Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Republic of Korea (TRC 3) Investigation into Overseas Adoption. TRC 3, which encompasses far more victims’ groups than just Korean Adoptees, begins on February 26th, 2026.
TRC 3 has a two year submission period from February 26th, 2026 — February 25th, 2028, which will be followed by a two year investigation period. There are likely to be hundreds if not thousands of Korean Adoptees who submit their cases to TRC 3 — however, it is far from likely that TRC 3 will be able to accept nor investigate even a fraction of even the cases it accepts — given that it rendered judgments on just 54 cases of Korean Adoptees during TRC 2 from 2022-2025.
In the U.S., recent political unrest brings tremendous uncertainty for U.S. Korean Adoptees.
No matter what your political persuasion may be, hardly anyone on the planet is unaware of the current issues facing the U.S. right now. We are deeply concerned about the IMPERFECT STORM of the coming TRC 3 investigation into Overseas Adoption, which will be happening in the midst of the current political climate within the U.S.
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This brings us to our main concern: TRC 3 has great interest in U.S. side adoption documents. Please consider WHY this may turn out to be problematic in these times!
Given the current environment in the U.S. right now, we think that it might be NOT such a great time to share sensitive, private adoption documents with anyone — whether that is with self-proclaimed Korean Adoptee “Rights” groups organizing Adoptee submission of cases for TRC 3 — or with the TRC 3 itself.
Please read below for some of our serious concerns about PRIVACY — especially for U.S. Korean Adoptees in these times.
Just recently, on February 20th, 2026, an article was published in Korea which gives us serious pause about sharing sensitive, private adoption documents with TRC 3, which is based in S. Korea:
The Hankyoreh Article: “Records Experts: ‘A Records Management Division Must Be Established in the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission’”.
Self proclaimed Korean Adoptee “Rights” groups which are organizing submissions of Korean Adoptees for TRC 3 have been recklessly pushing U.S. Adoptees to file FOIA requests in order to satisfy the interest of TRC 3 in U.S. side adoption documents. While we at Paperslip have encouraged U.S. Adoptees for years to file free FOIA requests, we certainly DO NOT think that right now is a good time to file a FOIA request! Please be sure to read our serious WARNINGS about the current FOIA process on the link above. We prioritize the SAFETY of Korean Adoptees, and we wish that groups which are encouraging U.S. Korean Adoptees to file FOIA requests right now would take more care in doing so!
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U.S. Korean Adoptees: Please THINK CAREFULLY about why it may NOT be the best idea to share your sensitive, private adoption documents with ANYONE during these times in the U.S.
We certainly can’t tell anyone what to do in terms of whether or not they decide to submit their case to TRC 3 INDEPENDENTLY or through a representative group — or AT ALL. However, we want especially U.S. Adoptees to be able to make an INFORMED decision — instead of just being pushed into a process by Korean “Rights” groups without ANY notification of the important DANGERS of doing so!
We deeply understand the desperation and the desire of Korean Adoptees in the U.S. and around the world to try to get justice in their cases. However, we are deeply concerned about the data privacy of Korean Adoptees in these sensitive times.
U.S. Korean Adoptees — please DO YOUR RESEARCH and make an INFORMED choice about WHETHER and HOW you submit your case to TRC 3.
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For those who plan to submit their cases to TRC 3 INDEPENDENTLY — which we highly recommend — please be sure to read the IMPORTANT related links below BEFORE you submit your case to TRC 3.
Please take your time to CAREFULLY prepare your submission and to UNDERSTAND the process before proceeding.
Otherwise, your case could be REJECTED, and you could also hold the ENTIRE process back for EVERYONE if you do NOT remain CONTACTABLE at the SAME PERSONAL email and phone number from 2026-2030!
There are several IMPORTANT things to know!
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IMPORTANT RELATED LINKS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR CASE TO TRC 3 INDEPENDENTLY:
TRC 3 Announces The Opening Of Submissions: From February 26th, 2026—February 25th, 2028.
Preparation For Submission Of Materials To TRC 3.
Something IMPORTANT To Understand About The TRC 3 Process.