[sak9645]

Not really. The process and requirements are the same, since Korea is concerned mainly about finding the best possible parents for the children. It accepts people of Korean heritage, and also non-Koreans who understand the importance of raising an adopted child to value his/her birth heritage.

Korea does have a very organized and ethical program, so it is a good choice for anyone who meets Korea's standards.

The number of available children is decreasing, given the increased prosperity of the country and the growing acceptability of domestic adoption within Korea, so wait times have increased a bit, but it is still a program that has a manageable time frame.

I am hearing about more babies with prenatal exposure to alcohol, a sign of cultural changes in the country. The young women relinquishing children often have more exposure to conditions that could affect a baby's health, than they did in the past.

Still, most of the children come home in good shape, with few "surprises", thanks to an excellent medical care system, and good care in most of the foster homes.

Sharon