Korean Attorney Mina Kim, an associate at IPG Legal‘s law office in Seoul, Korea was recently quoted by The Associated Press and JoongAng Ilbo for her representation of a Korean-born adoptee deported from the United States in 2016 do, in part, to the failure by his adoptive parents and the Korean adoption system to secure his United States citizenship.
As mentioned in AP News, the Korean-born adoptee, who was adopted to the U.S. in 1979 and later abused and abandoned, is now suing the Korean government and Holt Children’s Services.
‘Attorney KIM argued in a Korean court that the case reflects a systemic failure tantamount to human trafficking.
“This was not just an adoption gone wrong—it was an illegal export of a child under the guise of international adoption. The government and agency must be held accountable for their role,” said Kim in court, as reported by the AP.
The case, currently under appeal at Korea’s Seoul High Court, is the most high-profile legal battle yet stemming from Korea’s troubled adoption history. It comes amid growing scrutiny of falsified records and inadequate oversight during the peak of Korea’s international adoption program.
Attorney Kim also emphasized: “This case is not only about compensation—it’s about recognizing a child’s right to their identity, safety, and citizenship. He was stripped of all three.”
On October 28, 2024, JoongAng Ilbo also profiled Kim’s work in its coverage of the rising movement of Korean adoptees seeking justice, highlighting her role as a leading voice in international human rights litigation in Korea. Attorney Mina Kim is, also, a leading Korean litigator working on some of the most noteworthy complex international litigation cases in Korea.
- JoongAng Ilbo – Adoptees Speak Out, Attorney Mina Kim Steps In
- The Korea Daily – Adoptee deported without citizenship criticizes ‘dereliction of duty by both Korea and the U.S.
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