South Korea Adoption Program
Dillon International also has a long history with South Korea. The agency began working with Eastern Social Welfare Society (formerly The David Livingston Foundation) in 1972 to place children from Korea with U.S. families. Working together, Dillon International and Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS) established a system of foster care for children waiting to be adopted. This system has become a model in other countries for developing their own child welfare systems.
Country Comparison
LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
We understand that trying to choose a program that best fits your family can be overwhelming. We have created a country comparison chart to help you see all the programs at one time. We also have the option to start the adoption program without selecting a country program.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the children available for adoption?
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Boys and some girls 18-26 months old at time of placement -
Children with minor to moderate special needs or birth family risk factors
Can I select my child's gender?
Families must be open to either gender.
Can single parents adopt?
No, unfortunatly South Korea does not accept single parent applicants.
What are the family requirements to adopt from South Korea?
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25ā44.5 years of age for non-Heritage family -
25-49.5 years of age for families with at least one spouse of Korean Heritage -
25-49.5 years of age for any Korean adult adoptee, either adopted from Korea or in the U.S. -
25-49.5 years of age for any family who has previously adopted a child from Korea -
No more than 10 years age difference between spouses
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Heterosexual couples married at least 2.5 years for both first and/or second marriages.
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Very minor arrest history could be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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No more than 4 children in the home -
The youngest child in the family must be at least 12 months older than the child being adopted. No exceptions.
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Dillon is authorized to work with families in AR, KS, MO, OK and TX. -
With special permission from Korea, Dillon can work with families residing in AL, AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, WA, WI or WY. -
With special permission from Korea, Dillon can work with families in all 50 states if at least one spouse has Korean Heritage. -
With special permission from Korea, Dillon can work with families in all 50 states who desire to adopt through the Waiting Child Program.
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Applicants with recent history or currently taking medication to treat mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must demonstrate symptoms are mild and well controlled -
Applicants are required to be within the stated weight limits prior to accepting a child referral. -
The country of Korea requires that applicants not be more than 30 percent overweight.
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Required for each parent
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Minimum annual income of $30,000
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Both parents must travel and make two trips of 6-8 days each.
What does a typical Korea program adoption timeline look like?
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Application: 2-3 months -
Home study: 2-3 months -
Referral: 1-3 months -
Childās arrival: 7-10 months -
Total timeframe: 12-19 months
