In this The Conversation article, 3 academics based at Southern Cross University in NSW argue that the long held myth that the purpose of intercountry adoption is to ‘rescue’ children in need is being challenged.

Instead, South Korea’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission (preliminary findings were released in March 2025) “revealed a disturbing pattern of human rights violations in the country’s adoption industry”. These include “forced relinquishments” and “falsified records”.

The authors point out that “Intercountry adoption is not just a social practice. It’s also an economic and political system…worth billions of dollars.”

Dollars which could have been spent in “supporting children to stay with their families and communities in their home countries.”