Podcast Summary: Consider This from NPR Episode: South Korea Admits to Widespread Adoption Fraud. Here's One Story
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Ailsa Chang
Guest: Diane Borche Leem, Documentarian and Korean Adoptee

Introduction

In this poignant episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ailsa Chang delves into the heart-wrenching revelations surrounding South Korea's international adoption practices. The episode focuses on Diane Borche Leem’s personal journey uncovering the widespread adoption fraud admitted by the South Korean government, shedding light on the systemic issues that have affected over 140,000 adoptees globally.

Diane Borche Leem’s Story

Diane Borche Leem’s story begins with unexplained flashbacks from her childhood in South Korea. As she recounts:

“[00:06] Diane Borche Leem: These brief images of a little home in the hills, scenes from an orphanage, children running around, shoes on a rack.”

Initially dismissing these as dreams, Diane soon realizes they might be actual memories from her past. Adopted by an American family in Fremont, California, in 1966 at the age of eight, Diane begins to question the authenticity of her adoption records.

Her investigative journey leads her to a shocking discovery:

“[00:42] Diane Borche Leem: I asked my adoptive mother if I could have my adoption records, and as I looked through them, I discovered that there were two pictures, one that was of me and one that was of another girl. And yet on the back of both pictures was the same name, the name that I was adopted with, which was Cha Jung Hee.”

This revelation uncovers that Diane was mistakenly switched with another child, identifying her true name as Kang OK Jin. Her biological mother was still alive, contradicting the adoption records that labeled her as an orphan.

Unveiling the Truth

Determined to uncover the truth, Diane returns to South Korea in the 1980s to confront the orphanage and the social worker responsible for her adoption process. She documents this journey in her film, First Person Plural. Diane explains:

“[04:18] Diane Borche Leem: Yes. So I returned to Korea in the 1980s and went to the orphanage and met the social worker who handled my case. And in fact, I made a film about this called First Person Plural...”

The social worker admits to the switch, revealing that the original child was not sent for adoption as planned. Instead, Diane was placed in her stead with falsified documentation, ensuring her passage to the United States as Cha Jung Hee, an orphan without a known family.

Context of Adoption Fraud in South Korea

Ailsa Chang provides a broader context of the situation:

“[01:33] Ailsa Chang: In the decades after the Korean war, more than 140,000 South Korean children were adopted by families living abroad. Last week, the South Korean government admitted that there are many stories like Diane Borche Lim's. A years long investigation by a Truth and Reconciliation commission found that the country's adoption agencies were responsible for widespread fraud, malpractice and even human rights violations.”

This admission marks a significant turning point, acknowledging the systemic failures and unethical practices that plagued the international adoption system in South Korea.

Impact on Adoptees and Families

The revelations have profound effects on adoptees and their families. Diane articulates the existential crisis faced by many adoptees:

“[06:19] Diane Borche Leem: I think just the fact of not knowing where we come from and not knowing one's origins and the inability to actually track down those origins is really difficult. I think it's an existential need that we all have...”

She emphasizes the universal desire for identity and roots, despite being raised in loving families:

“[06:19] Diane Borche Leem: I was adopted into a very loving, caring family... and yet I wanted to know who I was.”

Official Admission and Call for Justice

The South Korean government's admission has elicited mixed emotions among adoptees. Diane shares her feelings:

“[07:43] Diane Borche Leem: I think I just felt a mixture of emotions... sometimes I just feel numb about it because it's just so overwhelming.”

She advocates for broader investigations beyond South Korea, highlighting the need for accountability in countries like the United States:

“[08:33] Diane Borche Leem: Absolutely. I think there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been adopted from Korea, Guatemala, China, Colombia, India, et cetera. I think there needs to be an investigative effort here in the U.S...”

Pathways to Justice and Reconciliation

Diane outlines what true justice would look like for affected adoptees:

“[09:24] Diane Borche Leem: I think a truth and reconciliation process isn't binding. I know one of the recommendations is to issue a formal apology. I think an apology would be fine, but I think it needs to be followed through concrete action...”

She calls for:

• Access to Adoption Records: Ensuring adoptees can retrieve accurate information about their origins.
• Enhanced Support Systems: Providing financial and social support for adoptive families, especially those led by single parents.
• Policy Reforms: Ending international adoptions from South Korea to prevent further injustices.

Conclusion

Diane Borche Leem’s narrative serves as a powerful testament to the enduring quest for identity and truth among international adoptees. The South Korean government's acknowledgment of adoption fraud marks a critical step towards reconciliation, but as Diane emphasizes, tangible actions and widespread investigations are essential to address the deep-seated wounds left by decades of systemic malpractice.

This summary captures the essence of the episode, presenting Diane’s personal story within the broader context of international adoption fraud in South Korea, and highlighting the ongoing quest for justice and identity among affected individuals.