Korea

SPENCE-CHAPIN'S KOREAN ADOPTION PROGRAM was first launched in 1975. Since then more than 2,600 children have been placed with adoptive families in the U.S. The agency has a long-standing relationship with the Social Welfare Society (SWS) that goes back to the inception of the program.

Known as the "Land of the Morning Calm," South Korea is located in East Asia with a population of nearly 50 million people. Most people live in urban areas, with the capital city, Seoul, being one of the largest cities in the world. It is a beautiful country with mountains, valleys, rolling hills and spacious plains. Home to 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, one cannot help but admire the long history, beautiful art, music and dance, as well as delicious foods that go back centuries. Korea has a thriving economy and is considered one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. The standard of living is high, and health and education are extremely important. South Korea was one of the first countries to implement an international adoption program, initially after the Korea War, and most recently in response to societal stigma associated with unwed mothers.

Program Criteria

Married couples over 25 and under 43 years old at the time of registration submission to Spence-Chapin can apply. Applicants must submit their full dossier to Korea, including the I-600a approval, 4 months before their 44th birthday. Applicants should anticipate that they will need to allow a minimum of six months to one year to complete their home study and USCIS approval prior to submission. SWS prefers to work with couples where the wife is no more than 7 years older than the husband and the husband is no more than 10 years older than the wife.
Couples must be married for at least 3 years at the time of application to Spence-Chapin.
In order to be eligible to adopt from South Korea, applicants cannot have: current medical conditions, chronic illnesses, infectious or degenerative diseases, seizure disorders, history of mental health diagnosis or treatment with psychotropic medications, or severe physical deformities. A past history of counseling around infertility, bereavement, or an isolated life event is generally acceptable, as long as there was no psychiatric diagnosis and may be considered on an individual basis.
Chronic treatable medical issues will be considered on an individual basis. Stable and mild conditions, such as: migraines, allergies, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, asthma, and benign heart conditions where no treatment is recommended are generally allowed.
Applicants must have a BMI of 30 or less.
No arrest history, though very minor, isolated incidents may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants' current financial situation will be reviewed by SWS, and a family must demonstrate that their income is above the U.S. poverty guidelines.
No more than five children (including the adopted child) under the age of 18 may be in the family. Applicants cannot have more than one child from a country other than Korea, and those children should be physically and emotionally healthy.
Both applicants should have high school diplomas or the equivalent.
Applicants practicing Judeo-Christian religions are encouraged to apply; all other religions are considered individually.
In order to meet USCIS requirements, at least one applicant must be a U.S. citizen with the spouse being either a citizen or a permanent resident.

Korean Children in Need of Homes

Infants of both genders, though there are more boys than girls, are available for adoption from South Korea. There is a specific need for families who are open to infants and toddlers with a wide range of medical conditions. Children generally arrive home at 8- to 12-months-old, however, older children and sibling groups are not available through this program. Infants typically spend their first 4-5 months in a small, cozy nursery setting, thereafter entering loving foster care until they are ready to travel to the U.S.

Timing and Travel: From Application to Homecoming

Timing: The current wait for a referral after your dossier is sent to Korea is usually 3-10 months, though it can be shorter depending on your openness to medical issues.
Referral: At the time of referral, you will receive photographs and social, developmental, and medical reports on the child who has been matched with your family.
Travel: One or both members of a couple are required to travel to Korea approximately 4 months after acceptance of referral. This trip typically lasts about 1 week and is spent in Seoul. When in Korea, you are guided through all adoption-related activities by the bilingual staff of SWS. During this trip you will also have an opportunity to meet the foster family who cared for your child.
Post Adoption: Korean adoptions are finalized in the U.S. court system approximately 1 year after placement, and will be facilitated by Spence-Chapin and an attorney. Before you can begin the finalization process, SWS requires 3 reports within 6 months after placement. Both reports are written by the social worker based on either a home or office visit with your family. For out-of-state families, your local agency provides this service. On-going support through the Spence-Chapin Adoption Resource Center is available throughout the lifetime of your family and is free for one year following the adoption.

Families Outside of the NY/NJ Metro Area

Spence-Chapin welcomes families outside of our direct New York/New Jersey metropolitan service area to adopt through our program in Korea. Spence-Chapin collaborates with other reputable agencies around the U.S. For more information about networking and a list of Spence-Chapin Network Agencies, click on the link or contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.

Summer Programs

Spence-Chapin coordinates an annual summer Roots Family Tour. This two-week trip is specially designed for children and young adults of Korean heritage to visit the country of their birth with their adoptive families. An experienced social worker and an English-speaking Korean travel guide accompany the tour group. To receive a brochure or for more information, contact Namyi Min, Korean program coordinator, at 212-360-0292 or nmin@spence-chapin.org.

Through a special grant, Spence-Chapin has a Korean Summer Internship Program that funds two of our young adult, Korean adoptees to visit the country to work with infants and children in a babies' home and explore Korea for a month.

Spence-Chapin also assists adoptees applying for a three week intensive Korean Language and Culture Program at Kyung Hee University in Seoul. A partial scholarship funded by SWS covers tuition and housing expenses. The program provides a wonderful opportunity to live in Seoul and experience the university setting.

Applicants may apply for either or both programs and must have been adopted from Korea through the Spence-Chapin program with SWS. For more information or to update your address, contact Merri Robinson at 212-360-0250 or mrobinson@spence-chapin.org. Download the Korean Summer Internship and Language Culture Programs 2010 Application Form here.

Humanitarian Aid to Korea

Spence-Chapin provides consistent financial donations to our Korean partner agency, Social Welfare Society, in support of their programs that offer counseling to birth families, care for children with special needs, and much needed support to young mothers who wish to parent their children. The agency’s support also helped to facilitate the construction of a Guest House where adult adoptees and adoptive parents stay when visiting South Korea.

To learn more about our humanitarian aid programs and how you can support them, please view our Helping Children Abroad page.

Cost Guidelines

There are several categories of fees and expenses that adoptive families should anticipate when considering an international adoption. For an explanation of these, please refer to the Understanding Fees and Expenses page. Included in these fees is a separate foreign country program fee which varies. For Korea it is $16,540.

Celebration for Children Adopted Internationally

Every year the agency hosts parties for Spence-Chapin families formed through international adoption. Families come together to celebrate with traditional food, crafts, and entertainment, which offers children an opportunity to explore their common heritage. For information about this year's celebration, please contact Spence-Chapin's Events Hotline at 212-360-0274.

SWS website: http://www.sws.or.kr/english/sub_02g.php

Korea's

Special Needs Center

Greetings from the little ones at the Amsa Rehabilitation Center in South Korea, which cares for children with special needs.

410 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128 212.369.0300