A South Korean court has ruled against adoptee Adam Crapser in a landmark case filed by the 49-year-old deported in 2016.
In a highly publicized lawsuit, Crapser argued that Holt Children’s Services, his adoption agency, and the South Korean government mishandled his adoption due to a flawed process. After his adoption, Crapser’s parents abused him, as AsAmNews previously reported, and never acquired his American citizenship.
The Seoul High Court overturned a previous ruling that Holt Children’s Services was liable and owed Crapser damages for failing to inform his adoptive parents about securing his citizenship, according to Inkl.
The court also found the government had no liability in Crapser’s difficult situation because of outdated adoption laws during South Korea’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, Devdiscourse reported.
During the appeal, Holt Children’s Services argued those same laws also protect the agency of responsibility in ensuring citizenship.
Crapser became the first Korean adoptee to sue his adoption agency and the South Korean government in 2019. His criticisms are echoed by other Korean adoptees who feel the country’s international adoption industry is fraudulent and negligent.
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