Eight adopted children from South Korea are suing the Danish state, demanding millions in compensation.

Eight Danish citizens adopted from South Korea filed a lawsuit against the state on Monday, alleging that Danish authorities failed to uphold their responsibility to protect their rights when they were adopted as children. Each is seeking 250,000 Danish kroner in compensation, bringing the total amount sought to two million kroner, according to DR.

Legal basis for human rights

The plaintiffs based their case on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns the right to respect for private and family life. In a press release, they explained that “the Danish state acted in violation of Danish law at the time, as well as human rights, including the right to private and family life.”.

The issue of identity and family origin

The case focuses primarily on the right of individuals to know their identity, origins, and family ties. Adoptives argue that these rights have been violated as a result of illegal practices that accompanied the adoption process.

Illegal adoption practices across decades

The roots of the case lie in illegal adoption practices that took place between the 1970s and 1990s, in which thousands of children—mostly from South Korea—were taken to Denmark under the guise of being foundlings. However, many were systematically removed from their biological families, and false information was recorded on their official documents. These operations were carried out in collaboration between South Korean and Danish adoption agencies.

Previous government rejection of the demands

This lawsuit came after the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing rejected in November 2024 a compensation request submitted by the adoptive parents themselves, justifying its rejection by saying that the case had expired due to the statute of limitations.

Certificate of the initiator of the lawsuit

Ghita Musi, one of the adoptive parents and the initiator of the compensation claim, said she came to Denmark from South Korea when she was three months old in 1982, stressing that the case concerns a fundamental right, stating: “It is about the right of an ordinary person, as well as an adopted person, to maintain a connection with their origins.”.

Psychological and material dimensions of suffering

Ghita Musi explained that she hopes to receive financial compensation not only for the “pain and suffering” experienced by the adoptive children, but also for the significant costs they may incur as a result of losing contact with their origins. These costs include traveling to South Korea to learn about the original culture or to search for their biological family.

She added that there is also a potential need for long-term psychological treatment, especially when the adopted child goes through new life stages such as becoming a parent, saying: “My personal experience shows that with each new stage of life, new challenges or problems arise that must be dealt with.”.

The claim goes beyond financial compensation.

Moussa stressed that the issue is not just about obtaining financial compensation, but also includes the need for support and assistance for adoptees who are facing the effects of these experiences.

Legal assessment of the likelihood of winning the case

Klaus Josefsen, an external lecturer in administrative law at Aarhus University and a lawyer at Printz, said that a successful case requires strong evidence. He explained, “Each individual has to prove that the state specifically erred in their particular case.”.

He added that the existence of previous warnings directed to the Danish regulatory authorities may strengthen the plaintiffs' position, saying that this could constitute clear evidence of a flaw, according to the DR website.

The possibility of opening the door to similar cases

Youssefsen believes this case could pave the way for similar cases if the plaintiffs are ruled in their favor, noting that it is a “central case” and that its success “could inspire others to file similar lawsuits.”.

South Korea and Denmark's positions

In South Korea, authorities have issued a political apology for these practices, and the government has decided to end all international adoptions by 2029.

In Denmark, the international adoption system has been suspended since 2024, so it is no longer possible to register to adopt children from abroad. However, the state has not yet offered a formal apology to adoptees.