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2mo ago

South Korean Mother Reunites with Daughter Abducted 44 Years Ago, Sues Government

Han Tae-soon, whose daughter was abducted in 1975 and illegally adopted in the US, seeks accountability for South Korea's overseas adoption practices.

The breakthrough came in 2019 through a DNA match from a family reunification group.
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Overview

  • Han Tae-soon reunited with her daughter, Laurie Bender, in Seoul after a 44-year separation caused by abduction and illegal adoption.
  • The reunion was made possible through a DNA match in 2019 facilitated by 325 Kamra, a nonprofit connecting adoptees with birth families.
  • Kyung-ha, now Laurie Bender, was abducted at age six, placed in an orphanage, and later adopted by a family in the United States.
  • Han Tae-soon is suing the South Korean government for its role in enabling her daughter's illegal adoption, citing systemic failures and human rights violations.
  • The case highlights broader allegations of fraud and misconduct in South Korea's overseas adoption program, which sent up to 200,000 children abroad between the 1950s and early 2000s.