FAQ: Why Korea?

Why did we choose to adopt from Korea?

1. We qualified.

Each country requires different things from prospective parents. The biggest two factors for us were age and length of marriage. Other factors such as income, education, and even BMI need to be considered for some countries. 

2. We wanted a baby.

As first time parents new to adoption, we wanted to adopt a baby or toddler. Many programs have older children available for adoption. 

3. Korea has a relatively short timeline. 

Though the wait may seem long, I assure you, it could be much longer. Korea currently has one of the shortest timelines. (Edit: This may no longer be true. Check with your local agency. -Dec 2012)

4. The Korea program is well-established and predictable. 

Korea has the longest standing international adoption program. We can generally know what to expect when adopting through this program. 

5. The birth-mothers are well cared for. 

Korea has special places for birth-mothers to go when they are pregnant and considering adoption. The are very well cared for medically and supported throughout the process.


6. Medical records and family histories are provided. 


This is relatively uncommon in the world of international adoption. While birth-mothers are being cared for prior to birth, they are asked to provide details about medical and social family histories. There is also a thorough medical history of each individual baby. Babies abandoned in Korea without any information are not made available for international adoption. 

7. The babies are cared for in foster homes.

Babies in Korea are cared for in foster homes rather than orphanages. This type of environment is generally better for development. In many cases, adoptive families are able to stay in touch with foster families. 

8. We have a connection with Asian culture.

While Korea is certainly not Thailand, we feel that we have a special connection to Asia having lived there for over a year. In the end, we did not choose to adopt from Thailand because its program is more unpredictable, has a longer timeline, and is currently only open to families seeking children with special needs. Also, at the time we began our adoption process, our agency was not accepting new applicants for the Thailand program. 

Here is a great site if you'd like to learn more about the Korea program: Choosing Korea