The official website of S. Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부, MOHW) is the source of the information about the upcoming file transfer from NCRC to the National Archives.
The official website of S. Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부, MOHW) is the source of the information about the upcoming file transfer from NCRC to the National Archives.
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부, MOHW):
“122 Adoptions Matched as of September Following Transition to Public Adoption System; 3rd Adoption Policy Committee Meeting Held”
Original Korean article first published on October 2nd, 2026.
ChatGPT English translation posted to Paperslip on October 2nd, 2026.
Some BOLDS and all blue highlighting ours.
“Meanwhile, approximately 240,000 adoption records transferred from private adoption agencies are currently being stored in temporary archival facilities.
Before transferring the records to the National Archives of Korea, the government plans to conduct tests for harmful microorganisms and pests in October and carry out selective disinfection to ensure their safe preservation. Records for which the necessary measures have been completed will then be transferred sequentially, with the transfers targeted for November–December.”
ChatGPT says:
“This is the official website of South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부, MOHW).
The specific page you linked is an official government post under the Ministry’s “현장앨범” (Field/On-site Album) section. It reports on the 3rd Adoption Policy Committee meeting, held October 2, 2026. MMinistry of Health and Welfare
Organization: Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), Republic of Korea
Website: mohw.go.kr — Ministry of Health and Welfare
Section: 현장앨범 (“Field Album” / “On-site Album”)
Publication date: October 2, 2026
Article: “공적입양체계 전환 후 결연 실적 9월 기준 122명, 제3차 입양정책위원회 개최”
English: “122 Adoption Matches as of September Following the Transition to the Public Adoption System; 3rd Adoption Policy Committee Meeting Held”’
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“122 Adoptions Matched as of September Following Transition to Public Adoption System; 3rd Adoption Policy Committee Meeting Held
Discussion on establishing the public adoption system and strengthening protections for adoptees’ rights
Permanent preservation of records and enhanced information disclosure services to support adoptees in tracing their roots
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong) held the 3rd Adoption Policy Committee meeting on October 2 (Friday) to review key developments since the reform of the public adoption system in July last year and discuss measures to provide more substantive protection for the rights of adoptees and their families.
In July 2025, the government completely reformed the adoption system, transitioning from the previous system, in which private adoption agencies handled adoption procedures, to a public adoption system under which the national government, local governments, and public institutions are responsible for the overall adoption process.
The reform was intended to strengthen public responsibility throughout the adoption process, with the “best interests of the child” established as the highest priority.
Following the transition to the public system, prospective adoptive parents began submitting adoption applications through a single point of contact. This resulted in a concentration of applications and delays in the adoption process.
In response, measures to improve the adoption process have been in place since March 19.
The application process was moved online, and support measures for prospective adoptive parents were introduced, including increasing the frequency of basic training sessions from twice to four times a month and securing additional regional training locations, including in Daejeon and Daegu.
In addition, 13 staff members were newly hired to conduct home-environment assessments for prospective adoptive parents, and the subcommittee responsible for reviewing matches between prospective adoptive parents and children increased its meeting frequency from once to twice a month.
As a result, procedural improvements were achieved. By the end of September, the number of households that had completed home-environment assessments had increased nearly threefold, from 109 on March 19 to 322. The number of households that had completed basic training for prospective adoptive parents also doubled, from 323 to 652.
These procedural improvements led to an actual increase in adoption matches. The number of children matched with prospective adoptive parents rose sharply from just 16 at the end of March to 122 at the end of September. These children subsequently entered the stage of obtaining court approval for adoption.
Meanwhile, approximately 240,000 adoption records transferred from private adoption agencies are currently being stored in temporary archival facilities.
Before transferring the records to the National Archives of Korea, the government plans to conduct tests for harmful microorganisms and pests in October and carry out selective disinfection to ensure their safe preservation. Records for which the necessary measures have been completed will then be transferred sequentially, with the transfers targeted for November–December.
Delays in the adoption information disclosure service are also being addressed. The number of staff dedicated to information disclosure has been increased from five to 20, and the process for providing information has been changed. Rather than taking an extended period to verify whether birth parents consent to disclosure, information will first be provided after personally identifiable information has been anonymized.
As a result, the processing rate for adoption information disclosure requests increased from approximately 16% at the end of June to 26% at the end of August. Going forward, the government plans to provide substantive support for adoptees seeking their roots by systematically linking these services with follow-up services, including assistance with reunions with birth parents.
Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said, “The ultimate goal of public adoption is to create a society in which every child can grow up healthy and happy in a family, and in which adoptees can fully discover their identity and be respected.” She added, “By actively reflecting the voices of people working in the field, we will ...”’
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We presume that ALL former Korean Adoption Agency files will move from NCRC’s Temporary Storage Facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do to the Seongam Branch of the National Archives, based on the October 10th, 2025 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed by The National Archives, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and NCRC — which was reported by the National Archives of Korea Newsletter No. 167 below:
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National Archives of Korea Newsletter No. 167:
“Adoption Records to Be Preserved at a Specialized Archival Facility...A Safe Preservation Path Opens at the National Archives of Korea”
Original Korean article published on October 10th, 2026.
ChatGPT English translation posted to Paperslip on October 3rd, 2026.
“The National Archives of Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Center for the Rights of the Child signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, October 10, at the Seongnam Branch of the National Archives of Korea to ensure the safe preservation and management of adoption records.
The agreement was 추진된 to establish a specialized, national-level management system that would enable the safe and systematic preservation of adoption records transferred to the National Center for the Rights of the Child following the implementation of the public adoption system on July 19 of this year.”
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“Adoption Records to Be Preserved at a Specialized Archival Facility
A Safe Preservation Path Opens at the National Archives of Korea
The National Archives of Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Center for the Rights of the Child signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, October 10, at the Seongnam Branch of the National Archives of Korea to ensure the safe preservation and management of adoption records.
The agreement was 추진된 to establish a specialized, national-level management system that would enable the safe and systematic preservation of adoption records transferred to the National Center for the Rights of the Child following the implementation of the public adoption system on July 19 of this year.
* Before: Private adoption agencies handled the entire adoption process.
After the reform: Private adoption agencies ceased these functions, while the national government, local governments, and public institutions became responsible for adoption decisions and management.
Previously, the National Archives of Korea visited the temporary storage facility in Goyang where the adoption records were being kept and, recognizing the need to ensure that these important records were properly preserved, urgently discussed measures to address the situation.
The agreement establishes a framework for mutual cooperation covering, among other matters:
Entrusting the adoption records under the jurisdiction of the National Center for the Rights of the Child to the archival storage facilities at the Seongnam Branch of the National Archives of Korea;
Providing space and other support to ensure that access to and provision of information from the entrusted adoption records can be carried out smoothly; and
Establishing and operating preservation facilities and equipment for adoption records.
Through these measures, concerns about the safety of the adoption records currently stored at the National Center for the Rights of the Child's temporary storage facility are expected to be addressed, allowing the records to be preserved and managed under a professional system. Following the signing of the agreement, the respective institutions will hold working-level consultations on the details necessary to implement the agreement.
Although the state has a responsibility to preserve adoption records, such records had not previously been managed in accordance with that responsibility. Accordingly, the National Archives of Korea, as the central authority responsible for records management, recognized the urgent need for measures and plans to pursue amendments to relevant laws and regulations to enable the entrusted preservation of the records.
By entrusting the adoption records to the Seongnam Branch of the National Archives of Korea, the country's premier archival preservation facility, the National Archives plans not only to ensure their safe preservation but also to provide necessary services such as restoration and access to the records.”