G.O.A.'L

Korean  name: (사)해외입양인연대
Type: Registered non-profit, non-governmental in the Republic of Korea
Founded: 1998
Location: Based in Seoul, Korea with global membership base

Membership:
Open to all Korean adoptees.  Additionally, we have native Korean volunteers that are instrumental in bridging language and culture gaps for adoptees within Korean society.  Some events are specially funded for adoptees only, though most are open to all members.  Membership fee is paid annually, based on the time of registration.

Organization:
An annual General Meeting is held in February/March of every year.  The members of the association bi-annually appoint and elect a Board of Directors, which is a legal mandate under Korean law.  The staff and advisors are a mix of Korean adoptees and native Koreans, though all major decision-making is ultimately made by adoptees.  The staff and advisors are responsible for setting an annual program schedule and coordinating & organizing all the programs/events therein. 

Official sponsors: 
Korean Ministry of Health & Welfare (effective 2006), individual donors

Post-adoption services, events & activities:
- Birth family search assistance (see below for more info)
- Translation services (e-mails and letters) between adoptees and their birth families
- Interpreters for birth family reunions
- Annual conference addressing issues of adoption
- Scholarships for Korean language study at well-known universities in Korea (Ewha Womans, Sogang, Kyunghee and HanSung University)
- 1-on-1 Korean language tutoring
- Public education forums on adoption issues (by working with media, institutes of higher education and the Korean government)
- Lobbying for law & policy changes that support the rights of Korean adoptees and their families
- International networking
- Internship & mentoring program
- Bi-annual Members’ Weekend Retreat (MT)
- General assistance, advice & referrals with settling in Korea (getting cell phone, bank account, F4 visa, accommodations, employment etc.)

To initiate birth family search G.O.A.'L recommends the following steps:

1. FIRST, contact your respective Korean adoption agency and obtain as much information as possible. Your Korean adoption agency (Holt, KSS, ESWS or SWS) has the original file with your data and therefore the chances of finding vital information (birth family’s name(s), city of birth, birthdate, etc.) for your search at your Korean adoption agency are the highest.  Reunions are some times instantaneous this way. 

2. NEXT, in the case that you’re not given any useful information by the adoption agency regarding your search you can register online on the G.O.A.’L web-based database at: http://www.goal.or.kr  -> Family Search -> Online Form

3. If you need help with the form or the registration process you can contact our Post-adoption Services Department at services@goal.or.kr (Ms. Hoya Lee)

4. G.O.A.’L works closely with the police departments and district offices in case you have some helpful information to track down your birth family.

5. LAST, in case you the above methods are not successful, G.O.A.'L can connect you with the Korean media (TV, newspaper, radio etc.).  We cooperate especially with KBS (Achim Madang – a daily morning program that airs nationally, but searches only air on Wednesdays) and YTN (Korean international news channel).

Publications: “The OAK” newsletter (printed three times annually)

History: 
G.O.A.'L is a registered non-profit, non-governmental adoptee organization based in Seoul, Korea founded by adoptees from Europe and the US in 1998.  Beginning as a network to assist overseas adopted Koreans returning to Korea to access Korean society by bridging barriers of language and culture, G.O.A.’L has worked tirelessly to educate, create a voice for and increase recognition of overseas adopted Koreans in their homeland through lobbying the Korean government, organizing an annual conference addressing adoption-related issues, publishing a regular bi-lingual newsletter and coordinating public education, networking & social events. 

G.O.A.’L has grown into an organization that now also provides post-adoption services including:  birth family search assistance, translation/interpretation, 1-on-1 Korean language tutoring, scholarships for Korean language study at well-known Korean universities, referrals to partner organizations, advice on visiting or living in Korea and assistance with accessing basic services in Korea such as opening a bank account, setting-up mobile phone service or obtaining the F-4 visa, etc.

Contact information:
Official web site:
Website: www.goal.or.kr
E-mail: office@goal.or.kr


Mailing address:
G.O.A.’L
KPO Box 1364
Seoul 110-613
Korea
Phone: (82 2) 325 6585
Fax: (82 2) 325 6570