Corée du Sud : le combat poignant de mères biologiques pour la vérité sur les adoptions internationales

SÉOUL — Le silence entourant les adoptions internationales en Corée du Sud, marquées par des décennies d’opacité et de souffrances, vient d’être brisé une nouvelle fois. Vendredi, cinq mères biologiques, ayant été séparées de leurs enfants lors de programmes d’adoption vers l’étranger, ont officiellement déposé des pétitions pour exiger l’ouverture d’une enquête approfondie sur des allégations d’abus systémiques.

Ce geste, loin d’être un acte isolé, s’inscrit dans un mouvement national de réparation et de quête de vérité. Pour ces femmes, il ne s’agit plus seulement de retrouver un lien familial, mais de mettre en lumière les mécanismes de coercition et de fraude qui ont conduit à la séparation forcée de milliers de familles.

Un système d’abus institutionnalisés

L’initiative de ces cinq mères intervient dans un climat de reconnaissance officielle sans précédent. En mars 2025, la Commission vérité et réconciliation de Corée du Sud a rendu des conclusions historiques, pointant directement la responsabilité du gouvernement sud-coréen. L’institution a établi que l’État avait non seulement facilité, mais parfois encouragé des adoptions abusives touchant des dizaines de milliers d’enfants.

L’enquête de la Commission a révélé que nombre de ces placements n’étaient pas le fruit d’un choix éclairé, mais le résultat de pressions sociales, économiques, voire de falsifications de documents administratifs pour rendre les enfants « adoptables » selon les critères internationaux.

[Insérer ici le post X/Twitter relayant les images de la manifestation des mères à Séoul]

L’impact public et l’urgence d’une réparation

L’enjeu dépasse le cadre privé. Il s’agit d’une question de droits humains fondamentaux. Le volume d’enfants concernés — estimé à plusieurs dizaines de milliers — place la Corée du Sud face à un miroir douloureux de son passé socio-économique.

L’importance de ce dossier pour l’intérêt public réside dans la nécessité de définir une norme éthique pour les adoptions internationales. La reconnaissance de la responsabilité de l’État, actée fin 2025, marque un tournant juridique : elle ouvre la voie à des demandes de réparations financières et morales, mais surtout à l’accès aux dossiers originaux, souvent occultés ou détruits.

Vers une justice restorative

Le dépôt de ces pétitions vendredi souligne que, malgré les aveux du gouvernement, le chemin vers la guérison reste long. Les mères demandent aujourd’hui une transparence totale sur les agences d’adoption et les intermédiaires qui ont opéré durant ces décennies.

[Insérer ici le Reel Instagram : “Les visages de l’espoir : mères et enfants retrouvés”]

Alors que le pays tente de solder ce chapitre sombre, l’action de ces cinq femmes rappelle que la vérité est la condition sine qua non de toute réconciliation. Le monde observe désormais si Séoul transformera ses excuses institutionnelles en actes concrets de justice pour chaque famille brisée.

[Insérer ici la vidéo YouTube : “South Korea’s Adoption Scandal: The Long Road to Truth”]

South Korea Launches Audit of State Oil Firm Over Overseas Crude Sale

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s Industry Ministry has initiated an audit of the Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) following the sale of approximately 900,000 barrels of crude oil reserves to a foreign buyer, bypassing the country’s right of first refusal. The incident raises questions about the management of strategic petroleum reserves and potential vulnerabilities in South Korea’s energy security.

The oil, owned by a foreign entity, was held at a storage facility in Ulsan as part of an international joint stockpiling program established in 1999. This program allows foreign suppliers – including oil-producing nations and international firms – to utilize South Korea’s excess storage capacity. A key provision of the agreement stipulates that South Korea has priority to purchase the oil in emergency situations.

According to the ministry, KNOC failed to exercise this purchase right before the crude was sold abroad. The audit will focus on determining whether KNOC adhered to internal regulations and procedures during the sale.

“The audit will thoroughly investigate whether any internal rules were violated,” a ministry spokesperson stated. “Any confirmed violations will be met with strict disciplinary measures.”

The international joint stockpiling program was designed to bolster domestic oil supply stability. The current situation highlights potential weaknesses in the system and raises concerns about the oversight of foreign-owned oil stored within the country’s reserves.

The incident comes at a time of heightened global energy concerns, and underscores the importance of maintaining robust and secure strategic petroleum reserves. Further details are expected following the completion of the audit.

Reporting by Asia Today, translated by United Press International.

South Korean Shipping Firm Capitalizes on Iran War-Fueled Tanker Demand

By [Your Name], International Editor

SEOUL, South Korea – A strategic gamble by a South Korean shipping company is yielding substantial profits as the ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt global oil markets. Sinokor Merchant Marine, a major player in the South Korean maritime industry, positioned itself to benefit from the crisis by securing a large fleet of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) prior to the escalation of hostilities.

The prescient move was spearheaded by Jeong Ga-hyun, a director at Sinokor Petrochemical and son of Sinokor Chairman Jeong Tae-soon. Bloomberg reported the strategy as an unusually large-scale bet in the global tanker market, executed well before the outbreak of the war.

Weeks before the conflict erupted in late February, Sinokor reportedly deployed at least six empty VLCCs to the Persian Gulf, anticipating increased demand. That anticipation proved accurate. Disruptions in the vital Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint handling roughly 20% of global oil shipments – sent tanker demand and charter rates soaring.

Today, Sinokor is reportedly chartering vessels for approximately $500,000 per day, a dramatic increase from last year’s average rates, according to Bloomberg. By late February, the company controlled around 150 VLCCs, representing roughly 40% of available tankers not already committed to sanctions or long-term contracts.

The surge in demand is driven by a combination of disrupted oil exports and rapidly filling storage facilities across the Middle East. Oil producers are increasingly utilizing tankers as floating storage units to manage the surplus.

Sinokor isn’t the only firm benefiting from the situation. The Wall Street Journal reported that Greek shipping magnate George Prokopiou, through his company Dynacom, also deployed tankers to the Strait of Hormuz and is earning up to $440,000 per day – four times pre-war rates. Dynacom has reportedly sent at least five tankers to the region.

Jeong Ga-hyun, the architect of Sinokor’s success, is described as a low-profile figure within the industry, known for a demanding, “military-style” management approach.

The Iran war has fundamentally reshaped global oil transportation patterns, forcing ships to reroute and increasing the need for offshore storage. Sinokor’s aggressive acquisition strategy is now widely viewed as a major beneficiary of the crisis, highlighting the significant financial implications of geopolitical instability on global trade.

North Korean Defector Pleads for Mother Facing Forced Return from China

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A North Korean man who escaped to South Korea in 2019 is urgently appealing to Chinese authorities to prevent the repatriation of his mother, fearing she faces severe punishment if returned to North Korea. Kim Geum-seong, 22, made a public plea Wednesday during a news conference organized by Amnesty International Korea in Seoul, warning that his mother’s case could signal a resurgence in the forced return of North Korean refugees.

Kim’s mother initially crossed the Yalu River into China in 2019, facilitating her son’s journey to freedom while remaining behind to build a life. She later established a family in China, but was arrested in January 2025 while attempting to reach South Korea via a third country. She is currently detained in Jilin Province, China.

“Mom, it is still cold outside, and Chinese prisons must be even colder and harder,” Kim said, visibly emotional. “Why must someone risk their life just to see the child they long to meet?”

Activists fear that if forcibly returned, Kim’s mother will face a grim fate. Amnesty International Korea’s senior manager for North Korean human rights, Choi Jae-hoon, warned that defectors repatriated to North Korea routinely endure torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor, sexual violence, and even execution.

“If they are forcibly repatriated, they face torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor, deliberate starvation, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, forced abortion, political prison camps and even execution,” Choi said.

The case comes amid growing concerns that China may be resuming large-scale repatriations of North Korean defectors, after a period of relative calm linked to shifting regional diplomacy. While large-scale deportations have been infrequent in recent years, reports of smaller-scale returns in 2023 and 2024 have raised alarms among human rights groups. Some activists believe further deportations could occur following the conclusion of China’s annual political meetings this week.

According to Kim Tae-hoon, who operates a group home for young North Korean defectors and serves as Kim’s legal guardian, a guard at the detention facility informed the woman’s Chinese husband that repatriation could happen soon. He also indicated that at least three other North Korean defectors are being held at the same facility.

Activists note that intervention from Chinese relatives has sometimes prevented repatriation in cases where defectors have established families in China. However, the overall outlook remains bleak.

The Seoul-based North Korean Human Rights Information Center recently stated that China’s forced repatriation of North Korean defectors could constitute crimes against humanity. The organization has begun compiling a database to identify Chinese officials involved in repatriation decisions, focusing on authorities in Liaoning and Jilin provinces.

The situation highlights the precarious position of North Korean refugees seeking freedom and the international pressure on China to uphold human rights standards.

Original Korean report via Asia Today: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260312010003601

South Korean Students Embrace AI as a Study Tool, Government Expands Education Initiatives

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Nearly half of South Korean high school students are regularly using artificial intelligence to aid their studies, according to a recent survey, as the government ramps up efforts to integrate AI education into public schools nationwide. The trend highlights a growing acceptance of AI not as a shortcut to answers, but as a dynamic learning resource.

The survey, conducted by education company Jinaksa among 3,525 high school students, found that 47.7% utilize AI for studying at least once a week. Of those, over a quarter – 25.2% – engage with AI learning tools one or two times weekly, while 14.4% use them three or more times each week. Just over 22% reported never using AI for academic purposes.

Students are primarily leveraging AI to deepen their understanding of complex topics. Nearly half (49.7%) reported using AI to request explanations of unfamiliar concepts. Other popular applications include assistance with problem-solving (29%), summarizing materials (27.9%), and receiving feedback on their work (17.4%).

“Students are not simply using AI to complete assignments,” explained Woo Yeon-cheol, director of the admissions strategy research institute at Jinaksa. “They are using it to ask questions about concepts they do not understand and to check the direction of problem solving.” He described AI as a form of “digital tutoring,” offering immediate clarification and support.

The growing student adoption of AI coincides with a significant government investment in AI education. The Ministry of Education has already designated 1,141 elementary, middle, and high schools as “AI focus schools,” collaborating with 17 regional education offices. These schools are integrating AI lessons across various subjects and developing interdisciplinary programs. The ministry plans to expand this initiative to 1,500 schools by 2027 and 2,000 by 2028.

Beyond curriculum integration, the “AI focus schools” will prioritize ethics education, ensuring students understand the responsible use of AI technologies. Hands-on learning programs and AI clubs will also be encouraged.

This push towards AI literacy comes as South Korea aims to establish itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, the country announced a $1.2 billion investment to teach AI skills from elementary school through the workplace, signaling a national commitment to building a comprehensive AI talent pipeline.

The Jinaksa survey suggests students are already ahead of the curve, proactively embracing AI as a valuable learning companion. As Woo noted, students are adapting quickly to AI-driven learning environments even outside of formal schooling.

Reported by Asia Today; translated by United Press International (UPI).

South Korean Game Companies Boost Dividends, Share Cancellations to Calm Investors

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Facing uncertainty around new game releases, several of South Korea’s leading video game companies are moving to bolster investor confidence through increased dividends and large-scale share cancellations, a trend analysts say could stabilize market expectations.

The moves, announced this week by Krafton, Netmarble, Com2uS, and Neowiz, reflect a broader effort within the competitive gaming sector to demonstrate long-term value despite the inherent risks associated with relying on the success of individual titles. Earnings in the industry can fluctuate dramatically depending on how well new games perform, making consistent returns a key concern for shareholders.

Krafton, the company behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, announced plans to return over 1 trillion won ($675 million) to shareholders through 2028 – a 44% increase over its previous three-year plan. This includes 300 billion won ($203 million) in cash dividends over the next three years, structured as a capital reduction dividend to minimize tax implications for smaller investors. Krafton also intends to repurchase and cancel over 700 billion won ($473 million) worth of its own shares, aiming to improve capital efficiency.

Netmarble is also increasing its shareholder payouts, committing to 71.8 billion won ($48.5 million) in cash dividends, equivalent to roughly 30% of controlling shareholder net profit. The company also plans to cancel 4.7% of its existing shares and has set a longer-term goal of increasing its shareholder return ratio to 40% by 2028.

Even mid-sized publishers are joining the trend. Com2uS cancelled 5.1% of its shares earlier this year and approved a 14.8 billion won ($10 million) cash dividend. Notably, five of the company’s executives, including CEO Nam Jae-kwan, collectively purchased 13,210 shares.

Neowiz announced a policy to return 20% of its consolidated operating profit to shareholders through a combination of share buybacks, cancellations, and dividends, potentially amounting to around 12 billion won ($8.1 million) based on 2025 results.

Analysts suggest these proactive measures could support higher valuations if company performance improves. The announcements come as the South Korean gaming industry navigates a challenging landscape, seeking to reassure investors amid the unpredictable nature of game development and launch.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI