Application for Guardianship of an Orphan

The Certificate of Appointment to Guardian of an Orphan was issued by the district office to the president of the adoption agency. In my case this was Kim Deuk Hwang, the president of Eastern Social Welfare Society from 1976-1984 and Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1971-2009. From 1984-1990 the presidency was held by Kim Deuk Hwang’s son, Kim Do Young and from 1990-1997 by Kim Deuk Hwang’s son-in-law, Kim Hak Ju. His daughter Kim Jin Sook has been president since 2007.

My Certificate was created when I was nine weeks old.

By taking on guardianship, Kim Deuk Hwang was able to carry out significant legal steps, like applying for my Korean Passport from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and permission for me to emigrate from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

It is worth noting that Kim Deuk Hwang (and his son, son-in-law and daughter who were subsequent presidents of his agency) was able to take on the guardianship of thousands of babies and infants that were adopted through Eastern Social Welfare Society. This was an arbitrary process and there was no assessment of his suitability for such a responsibility. It was applied for at the district office and rubber stamped by the District Chief. Our custody and guardianship were a mere bureaucratic step on the way to exporting us to our adoptive countries.

We were placed in the custody of a man and an organisation that were in the business of accepting payment for babies and children and sending them permanently away from their country and their family’s of origin.