Since the 1950s, over 200,000 Korean children have been adopted internationally. As adults, many of these adoptees return to South Korea to learn about their birthplace and search for family members.

KoRoot (Korean Roots) is a non-profit organization established in 2003. We support overseas adoptees born in Korea in visiting and resettling in their mother country, while also advocating for the human rights of adopted individuals.

At KoRoot, we strive to collaborate with adoptees to enhance society’s awareness of overseas adoption. Through active engagement between Korean society and adoptees, we empower adoptees in their journey of identity building. Additionally, we aim to promote birth family-centered child-rearing practices in Korean society, working in solidarity with adoptees, birth families, and unwed mothers.

Motherland Support Project: We assist overseas adoptees living in Korea or adoptees living overseas searching for their true background information and birth families, and we celebrate traditional holidays together.

Human Rights Advocacy Project: We work to improve systems and engage in activities that advocate for the rights of overseas adoptees and their birth parents.

Research Project: We conduct research to enhance the understanding and policies surrounding overseas adoptions.

Publishing Project:We publish materials to diversify the conversations about overseas adoption.

The idea behind KoRoot as the ‘Embassy of Adoptees’ is to provide a dedicated space in Korea for all Korean adoptees. This includes the children of adoptees who travel to or choose to study in Korea. They will have a secure and welcoming base where they can receive assistance and guidance.

By becoming a member, you help ensure that adoptees have their own place in Korea, working on behalf of adoptees worldwide. Your support is essential to our mission.

KoRoot - Adoptees’ Embassy in Korea has been launched, and the members are starting to join. We are incredibly excited about this!

For adoptees, it’s crucial that the help and advice we receive are impartial and completely independent from adoption agencies and the adoption industry — both financially and organizationally. This independence is not a given.

KoRoot, in collaboration with adoptee's associations world wide , has established the first independent representation for adoptees. Our office is a small place, but it’s filled with experienced and professional people who have the skills, the will and the heart to help adoptees.

KoRoot stands out due to its foundation in a professional network of experts in fields such as law, history, medicine, and social work. This network is comprised of both Korean and international researchers and professionals. 

A lot is happening in Korea when it comes to adoption. The ‘Embassy of Adoptees’ aims to ensure that the voices of adoptees are heard in Korean legislation, as well as by authorities and policymakers.

Adoptees’ access to KoRoot will remain the same as before. Members of KoRoot will be invited to exclusive online member activities, including:

• Professional seminars about Korea
• Monthly newsletters
• Member meetings with information relevant to adoptees about current events in Korea
• Special sessions on background searches and birth family searches, among other topics relevant to adoptees and their families

At KoRoot, we are a strong network of domestic adoptees, unwed mothers, biological mothers, researchers, experts, and of course, adoptees. We have been a robust community in Korea for more than 20 years, standing together with adoptees worldwide.