Korean Mother Reunites with Lost Daughter After 44 Years, Sues Government

In May 1975, in Seoul, South Korea, six-year-old Kyung-Ha disappeared while playing near her home. That was the last time her mother, Han Tae-Soon, saw her. Forty-four years later, in 2019, a DNA match finally reunited the two. Kyung-Ha, now known as Lori Bender, is a nurse living in the United States.
Following the emotional reunion, Han filed a lawsuit against the South Korean government. She alleges that the state failed to prevent her daughter’s abduction and illegal adoption abroad. The case is set to go to court next month and is one of the first of its kind in the country—where a mother is seeking compensation from the government on behalf of her lost child.
According to Han, her daughter was abducted and taken to an orphanage, where fake documents were created to label her as an abandoned child. She was then adopted by an American couple and renamed Lori Bender. Her adoption records falsely stated that her parents were unknown.
This case has shed new light on the darker side of South Korea’s international adoption history. Since the 1950s, more than 200,000 children have been sent abroad for adoption—many to Western countries—amid recurring allegations of abduction, fraud, and trafficking.
“I searched for 44 years,” Han said. “I handed out flyers, went to the police, appeared on TV. All my toes are worn out from walking. Yet, no one ever apologized.”
Eventually, a DNA testing service called “325 Kamra” led to a match with Lori in California. After speaking on the phone, Lori traveled to Korea to meet her mother. Han said she instantly recognized her daughter by touching her hair. “I knew right away — she’s mine.” Lori shared, “It felt like a hole in my chest finally closed. I became whole.”

The South Korean government issued a statement saying it is “considering the matter with deep regret” and will take appropriate action based on the court’s decision.
Han Tae-Soon’s case is not only a personal story of enduring loss and hope—it is also a turning point in the national conversation about South Korea’s adoption history and the responsibilities that come with it.
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