Why is Korea considered the "Cadillac" of International Adoptions?

Faith-based evangelists Harry and Bertha Holt pioneered one of the largest overseas mid-century modern child migration schemes in South Korea immediately after the Korean War ended, initially collecting donations for their "Orphan Foundation Fund." After receiving worldwide acclaim in Western media, Wanda, one of the Holts' biological daughters, compiled a list of over 500 potential customers who wanted to adopt a Korean baby as early as December 14, 1955. The insatiable demand for babies begins. Rev. Y.C. Murphy, a retired Seattle missionary, expressed his interest in 4000 children or more and was pleased that the Holts intended to give the Korean children to Christians only.

Harry Holt expressed his determination to bring as many children to the United States “as the Lord will allow” before December 1956, when the Refugee Act expired. Harry hoped the number would be 500, referring to the list of potential adopters compiled by his young daughter. Proud Christians, Bertha Holt wrote, “Harry often accompanied a Bible woman and a policewoman to locate babies in areas where mixed-race children were likely to be born.”

A military colleague of Holt noted that “many missionaries are reserving the children” for their friends who want children, but “some [Korean] mothers keep their children hoping their fathers will return to Korea to take them to America.”





Even into the 1970s, the children were exported overseas with certificates claiming Korean adoptees were “orphans,” “abandoned,”  and “unwanted.”

Rev. Graham, seen preaching below, held a five-day Crusade in Korea from May 30 to June 3, 1973, during which approximately 4.4 million Koreans attended across different cities. The largest gathering occurred in Seoul, with an estimated 1.1 million people in attendance on June 3, 1973. The religious-motivated “adoption cult and culture” expanded to recruit babies to better “forever-families” and “loving-Christian” homes.

Contrary to the notion that Confucius, Buddha, or an infatuation with “blood-ties”  has been the cause of the massive migration of Korean children, the overseas adoption industry has been spearheaded by faith-based adoption agencies, driving this historic child market into Korea's culture, which continues today. The fundamentalist mission was to “save orphans”  from an inferior culture, yet the children came from loving mothers and living families and conveniently met the insatiable demand for adoptable children. All it took was to set up a legal child welfare system in Korea while it recovered from the war and then repeat the process around the world. For a comprehensive investigation into overseas adoption and its aftermath inspired by its victims, Adoption History: An Adoptee's Research, curated by Rev. Dr. Vance, sheds light on what has become an accredited and "ethical" global multi-billion dollar industry.