Global Overseas Adoptees' Link


Global Overseas Adoptees' Link is an organization founded on March 5, 1998, in Seoul, South Korea "Run by adoptees, for adoptees."

History

The first overseas Korean adoptees returned to Korea in the early 1970s. Korea at that time was not ready for those who were sent abroad for adoption. Those adoptees who lived in Korea in the 1990s faced difficult situation, especially in the job market. Most adoptees, after working for three months, had to do a visa run. Many adoptees grew dissatisfied with this situation and began discussing advocacy for their rights. This is one reason GOAL was co-founded in 1998 by Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine aka kimura byol-nathalie lemoine, Lee Gutwirth, Amy Nafzger, Mirjam Jongejeugd and Philippe Zurbuchen. The first president elected was Kari Ruth, but Nafzger demanded a second election under the supervision/witness of Mi Ok Song Bruining, Dr. Park Insun and Baek Yeonoak. The first "official" president of GOAL was Lemoine, while Nafzger was vice president, Jongejeugd secretary and Gutwirth treasurer. Lemoine resigned over differences in the group's focus and direction and Nafzger took over as president with Gutwith staying as treasurer.
The first major task of GOAL was to lobby for the inclusion of adoptees in the Overseas Koreans Act. This act was passed in 1999 and allowed adoptees residency on a F-4 visa. The visa gives every adoptee the right to reside and work in Korea for three years at a time and can be renewed.
Since 1999, GOAL has held an annual conference to raise awareness within Korean society of international adoptees. The group also offers services to the adoptee community, especially the Birth Family Search, given high interest for searching for their biological families.
In 2002, GOAL was incorporated as a non-profit organization under Korean law and registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004, it became an NGO under Seoul Metropolitan City.
Since 2006, GOAL has received subsidies from the Korean government.
On December 29, 2010, GOAL opened its first overseas branch, GOAL USA, in Santa Barbara.
On September 14, 2013, GOAL completed its sixth annual First Trip Home Program.

Main Services

In 1999, GOAL successfully petitioned the Korean government to include Korean adoptees in the Overseas Korean Act, making them eligible for the F-4 visa. The visa allows adoptees to live and work in Korea indefinitely, with renewal required every three years. The F-4 also makes it possible for adoptees to gain employment, conduct banking and even vote in almost any election except the presidential election.
GOAL also ran the successful Dual Citizenship Campaign that granted adoptees Korean nationality. It is also advocating adoptees' rights within Korea. The Korean Nationality Law revision allowing adoptees to obtain dual citizenship was passed by the National Assembly on April 22, 2010, and made into law on May 4, 2010. The law went into effect on January 1, 2011. GOAL also submitted a bill to revise the Military Service Act to the Korean National Assembly to get male adoptees exempted from military service.
On April 19, 2011, 13 adoptees received Korean citizenship in a ceremony at the Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.