(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seong Seong-ho = As the backlog of adoption procedures was improved after the transition to the public adoption system, the number of children sponsored from 16 in March increased to 122 in September, an increase of approximately 7.6 times.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 2nd that it held the 3rd Adoption Policy Committee to review the major progress since the public adoption system was reformed in July of last year.
Previously, the government converted the child adoption process, which was carried out through private adoption agencies, to a public adoption system in which the national, local governments, and public institutions are responsible in July last year.
When the introduction of the public adoption system allowed prospective adoptive parents to apply for adoption through a single window, the adoption process was delayed due to a flood of applications at once, and the government has been implementing measures to improve the adoption process since March 19 of this year.
Accordingly, the adoption application method was changed to online, the number of basic training sessions for prospective adoptive parents was increased from 2 to 4 times a month, and additional local training locations were secured.
In addition, 13 additional people were hired to conduct home environment surveys of prospective adoptive parents, and the operation of the subcommittee that deliberates on relationships between prospective adoptive parents and children was increased from once a month to twice a month.
As a result, the number of families who completed the home environment survey increased from 109 to 322 at the end of last month compared to March when plans to improve the adoption process began in March.
Additionally, the number of families who completed basic education doubled from 323 to 652.
As the adoption process improved, the actual number of children sponsored also increased, and the number of sponsored children increased from only 16 at the end of March to 122 at the end of September, an increase of approximately 7.6 times. These children are currently in the process of being approved for adoption by the court.
Likewise, in the case of the adoption information disclosure service, which experienced delays, the number of personnel dedicated to information disclosure was increased from 5 to 20.
Also, previously it took a long time to provide information to check whether the biological parents consented, but the method was changed to de-identify personal information and provide information first.
Accordingly, the adoption information disclosure processing rate rose from 16% at the end of June to 26% at the end of August.
The government plans to sequentially transfer 240,000 adoption records handed over from private adoption agencies to the National Archives.
Adoption records currently stored in temporary storage will be transferred to the National Archives within the year after undergoing inspection and disinfection of harmful bacteria and pests within this month for safe preservation.
Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyung said, "The ultimate goal of public adoption is to create a society where all children grow up healthily in happy families and where adoptees fully discover their identity and are respected. By reflecting the voices of the field, we will improve the overall process more quickly so that children can meet warm families in a timely manner."
