In recent years, transnational adoption has come under increasing scrutiny, with both sending and receiving countries reassessing its contested past. South Korea, the largest and most enduring sending country, has often been examined primarily through a U.S. framework, particularly in relation to U.S. empire and U.S.–ROK relations.

This two-day conference shifts the focus to Europe, not only as a major receiving region but also as a vital site of critical adoption discourses and practices. Bringing together earlier and newer generations of scholars and activists, the conference will examine adoption histories across Europe, reflect on community-building and activism among adoptees, and consider the implications of state-led investigations for the future of critical debates on transnational adoption.

See this website for more information, including programme and list of speakers.

The conference is open to all, with registration required. Registration will open in early 2026.

 

The event is jointly sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies’ Strategic Research Institute, the Centre for Korean Studies at Tübingen, and the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies at Lund.