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.
UPDATE — June 15th, 2025:
Please note that it is now likely TOO LATE to submit a birth family search through your Korean Adoption Agency.
For KSS (Korea Social Service) Adoptees:
However, you should still be able to request your Adoption Certificate/s from your Korean Adoption Agency until July 19th, 2025. Please note that since the Post Adoption Services of Korean Adoption Agencies will CLOSE PERMANENTLY AFTER July 19th, 2025, that you should IMMEDIATELY request your Adoption Certificate/s from your relevant Korean Adoption Agency IF you plan to visit Korea prior to 2026. You will need to provide a copy of your photo ID - a copy of the photo page of your current Passport is likely required. If you do not have a current Passport, try submitting a copy of the photo page of your current Drivers License.
+
+
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR KSS AND ALL ADOPTEES — June 15th, 2025:
For IMPORTANT information related to the future of birth family search for KSS (Korea Social Service) and ALL Korean Adoptees, please see the pages linked under our NEW DROP DOWN MENU on Paperslip’s homepage, titled:
”AFTER July 19th, 2025, ALL Birth Family Search Requests Must Be Processed Through NCRC/KAS”:
+
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.
+
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.
(The page you are on) -
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
+
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!