Korea Search Services
For adoptees interested in initiating or following up with an existing birth search, please reach out to Eastern directly at postadoption@eastern.or.kr. They will provide you with the necessary forms to conduct a birth search and will oversee the search from their end.
Please keep in mind Eastern only has 2 designated post-adoption responsible for fielding hundreds of inquiries. Because of this, their response time can often take several months as they work through inquiries. If it has been more than 3 months since your initial inquiry, you may wish to send another in the event the email was missed. The birth search can take many months to complete from the time of initiation so if you are planning to travel, we recommend you send your request in at least 9-12 months in advance.
Sample subject line:
Birth Search Request for Adoptee Birth Name (Adoptee Case Number, Adoptee Adopted Name) Adoptive Parent's Names, Placement agency:
ie: Birth Search Request for Kim, TaeSeung (2001c-496, Tanner Smith) M/M John & Linda Smith, Dillon International
Visit to Eastern:
If you are planning a trip to Korea and would either like to schedule a foster family meeting or a file review at Eastern, please email Eastern directly at postadoption@eastern.or.kr. Because of limited staff and peak seasons (holidays and summer), Eastern is often unable to accommodate last-minute requests. We recommend reaching out to Eastern a minimum of 2-3 months prior to your trip during non-peak times and a minimum of 6 months for summer months, holidays or spring break.
The Eastern offices operate out of the 3rd floor of their office building. Due to changes in the adoption landscape, the Babies Home and guesthouse have closed. Below is their address and phone number:
3rd floor, post-adoption service center
Eastern Social Welfare Society
Tel) 82-2-323-1587
Address : #26, Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemungu
Seoul 03784 Korea
Correspondence:
For families and adoptees who would like to continue communication with foster families and/or birth families, you can email letters directly to Eastern’s post-adoption department at:
We suggest the letters to be translated into Korean to ensure timely delivery to the recipient. It is important to provide all pertinent information in your email to assist with your request. Information should include the Adoptee’s Korean name, Case Number, Current Legal Name, Adoptive Parent's name, and the placement agency in the subject line. Below is an example:
RE: Letter for Foster Family of Kim, TaeSeung (2001c-496, Tanner Smith) M/M John & Linda Smith, Dillon International