Global Overseas Adoptees' Link

Global Overseas Adoptees' Link (G.O.A.'L) is an organization founded on March 5, 1998, in Seoul, South Korea "Run by adoptees, for adoptees."

History

The first overseas Korean adoptees returned to Korea in the early 1970s. Korea at that time was not ready for those who were sent abroad for adoption. Those adoptees who lived in Korea in the 1990s faced difficult situation, especially in the job market. Most adoptees, after working for three months, had to do a visa run (travel to a nearby country to renew their visa before reentry). Many adoptees grew dissatisfied with this situation and began discussing advocacy for their rights. This is one reason GOAL was co-founded in 1998 by Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine[1] aka kimura byol-nathalie lemoine (Belgium), Lee Gutwirth (Belgium), Amy Nafzger (USA/MN), Mirjam Jongejeugd (Netherlands) and Philippe Zurbuchen (Switzerland). The first president elected was Kari Ruth (US/MN), but Nafzger demanded a second election under the supervision/witness of Mi Ok Song Bruining, Dr. Park Insun and Baek Yeonoak. The first "official" president of GOAL was Lemoine (March to August 1998), while Nafzger was vice president, Jongejeugd secretary and Gutwirth treasurer. Lemoine resigned over differences in the group's focus and direction and Nafzger took over as president with Gutwith staying as treasurer.

The first major task of GOAL was to lobby for the inclusion of adoptees in the Overseas Koreans Act. This act was passed in 1999 and allowed adoptees residency on a F-4 visa. The visa gives every adoptee the right to reside and work in Korea for three years at a time and can be renewed.[2]

Since 1999, GOAL has held an annual conference to raise awareness within Korean society of international adoptees. The group also offers services to the adoptee community, especially the Birth Family Search, given high interest for searching for their biological families.

In 2002, GOAL was incorporated as a non-profit organization under Korean law and registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004, it became an NGO under Seoul Metropolitan City.

Since 2006, GOAL has received subsidies from the Korean government.

On December 29, 2010, GOAL opened its first overseas branch, GOAL USA, in Santa Barbara.[3]

On September 14, 2013, GOAL completed its sixth annual First Trip Home Program.

Main Services
  • Birth Family Search in cooperation with adoption agencies, Korean and international media (KBS, YTN, National Assembly TV etc.)
  • Annual Conference [4][5]
  • Translation, interpretation
  • Korean language education and scholarships
  • General support: F-4 visa and many more [6]
  • Motherland tours [7]

Activities

In 1999, GOAL successfully petitioned the Korean government to include Korean adoptees in the Overseas Korean Act, making them eligible for the F-4 visa. The visa allows adoptees to live and work in Korea indefinitely, with renewal required every three years. The F-4 also makes it possible for adoptees to gain employment, conduct banking and even vote in almost any election except the presidential election.

GOAL also ran the successful Dual Citizenship Campaign[8] that granted adoptees Korean nationality. It is also advocating adoptees' rights within Korea.[9] The Korean Nationality Law revision allowing adoptees to obtain dual citizenship was passed by the National Assembly on April 22, 2010, and made into law on May 4, 2010. The law went into effect on January 1, 2011. GOAL also submitted a bill to revise the Military Service Act to the Korean National Assembly to get male adoptees exempted from military service.

On April 19, 2011, 13 adoptees received Korean citizenship in a ceremony at the Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.

References
  1. Kim, Min-Jeong (11 June 1996). "Korea Times". The Korea Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. "(504) The Face of Adoption". koreatimes. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  3. Lopez, Susannah (3 January 2011). "Korean Adoptees welcome Arrival of G.O.A.'L". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  4. Lim, Yun Suk (20 August 2008). "Korean adoptees meet birthparents at homecoming". channelnewsasia.com. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  5. Moon, Gwang Lip (6 August 2008). "Adoptee support group celebrates decade of work". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  6. Moon, Gwang-lip (17 October 2007). "Fair provides tips for foreigners on living in Korea". JoongAng Daily.
  7. Schulz, Sandra (21 February 2009). "Das siebte Kind" (in German). Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  8. Song, Sang-ho (16 May 2008). "Korean adoptees start campaign for dual citizenship". Korea Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  9. Sheppard, Nicole (February 2008). "A Casualty of Korea's Adoption Laws". KoreaAm Journal. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2009.

Office: +82-2-325-6585 Fax: +82-2-325-6570

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