Say: Bye bye Korea, until later, when I have grown up
Eun-mi Postma - 04/04/03, 00:00
About four thousand South Korean children have been adopted over the last 35 years by Dutch couples, but last week the last batch adoptive babies left for Schiphol. Although South Korea is prosperous now, because of the rigid social conventions still many children are available for adoption. And South Korea would rather invest in the recovery of 'Overseas Koreans' than in social services that counteract that women give up their children for adoption.
Two boys and two girls. All four babies are about six months old and look very healthy. The girls in their red suits look sleepy, while the boys with their black eyes curiously followed all movements around them.
In the nursery at the South Korean Incheon airport they get one last bottle and a diaper just before the flight. Already early in their life awaits them a long journey that will change their life forever. These are almost certainly the last children from South Korea who are adopted by Dutch couples