Korea panel probes overseas adoption cases worldwide

March 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission plans to investigate hundreds of overseas adoption cases involving adoptees living around the world, with officials saying multilingual interpretation and translation will be critical to the effort.

The commission said overseas adoption cases have emerged as a key focus following the launch of its third term in late February.

As of March 10, the commission had received 1,309 applications seeking truth investigations into past human rights abuses linked to state authorities.

Among them, 864 cases involve overseas adoption, according to the commission. An additional 311 adoption cases were suspended during the panel's previous term and may also be reviewed.

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The commission's latest investigation marks a renewed effort to examine allegations of irregularities in South Korea's overseas adoption system, which sent more than 200,000 children abroad over several decades, primarily to the United States and Europe.

Officials said the first application accepted during the commission's new term involved an adoption case in Denmark, with additional petitions expected from other European and Asian countries.

However, investigators say the commission's current foreign-language capabilities remain limited.

At present, most of its international communication relies on English, and the commission's website provides overseas application information only in Korean and English.

Experts warn that this could present challenges as adoption-related petitions arrive from countries with diverse languages.

Seo Yu-kyung, an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said relying on indirect translation could distort key testimony.

"In a double-translation process where a local language is first translated into English and then into Korean, meaning can be altered or information may be lost," Seo said.

"In investigations aimed at uncovering the truth, subtle nuances in testimony are extremely important, so direct interpretation between the local language and Korean is preferable whenever possible."

She also noted that complex interpretation processes could discourage interviewees in sensitive cases.

"Allowing adoptees to communicate directly with investigators in their own language can help encourage more detailed testimony," she said.

The overseas adoption investigations will be handled by a newly established investigative bureau within the commission.

Officials said a task force will soon be formed to prepare for the inquiries and develop staffing plans, including the recruitment of investigators with foreign-language skills.

A commission official said specific staffing decisions have not yet been finalized because related regulations are still being drafted.

"We will review personnel plans, including the need for multilingual interpretation and translation support, once the task force is launched," the official said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260313010004058