A South Korean court has dismissed a lawsuit against the government and adoption agency Holt Children's Services, stemming from a Korean man's traumatic adoption experience. The Seoul High Court overturned a lower court ruling, clearing both entities of liability in the case of Adam Crapser.
Crapser, a 49-year-old married father, alleges abuse and abandonment by his U.S. adoptive parents, who failed to secure his U.S. citizenship. This led to his deportation from the U.S. in 2016. He had previously sued the government and Holt in 2019, and his legal battle highlights broader concerns about questionable adoption practices in South Korea.
The high court's decision cited a 1970s adoption law, implemented under a military dictatorship, which streamlined the adoption process but relaxed oversight of foreign adoptions. This law, according to the court, absolved both the government and Holt from responsibility for Crapser's citizenship issues.
Crucially, the court did not find the government at fault for Crapser's plight, upholding the previous decade-old adoption law. The full text of the ruling remains undisclosed.
This decision comes amidst broader scrutiny of South Korea's international adoption practices, particularly during the 1970s-80s. Similar lawsuits and a fact-finding investigation suggest widespread irregularities and potentially fraudulent activities, fueling public pressure for reform.
Despite the ruling, Crapser's legal options remain open. His lawyer has not yet commented on potential appeals to the Supreme Court. The Justice Ministry and Holt Children's Services also have yet to publicly address the decision.
This case, along with other similar suits and investigations, places the South Korean government and adoption agencies under increasing pressure to address historical adoption irregularities and ensure the rights and well-being of adoptees and their birth families.
