Global Overseas Adoptees' Link
Encyclopedia
Global Overseas Adoptees' Link (G.O.A.'L) is an organization founded on March 5, 1998, in Seoul
, South Korea
'run by adoptees, for adoptees'.
The first very important work under the first Secretary General Ami Nafzger was to lobby for inclusion of Korean international adoptees into the Overseas Koreans Act. This act was passed in 1999 and allowed thereafter Korean adoptees to stay on a F4 visa. The F4 visa gives every adoptee the right to reside in Korea for an unlimited time and is at the same time also a work permit.
Since 1999 G.O.A.'L has also organized annually a conference in order to raise awareness within the Korean society about the situation of Korean international adoptees. At the same time G.O.A.'L also offered various services to the Korean adoptee community. The most important part of the services is the Birth Family Search service. Among adoptees the need to search for their own roots seems to be a very important need.
Since 2002 G.O.A.'L was also incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and is registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 2004 G.O.A.'L is also registered as a NGO under the Seoul Metropolitan City authorities.
Since 2006 G.O.A.'L receives subsidies from the Korean government.
On December 29, 2010 G.O.A.'L opened its first overseas branch office, G.O.A.'L USA, in Santa Barbara
.
revision which allows Korean adoptees to obtain dual citizenship was passed by the Korean National Assembly on 22nd April 2010 and officially announced on 4th May 2010. The revised law went into effect on January 1, 2011. G.O.A.'L also submitted a law revision of the Military Service Act to the Korean National Assembly
in order to get Korean adoptees exempt from military service.
On April 19, 2011, 13 adoptees' reinstated their Korean citizenship during a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice facility in Gwacheon, South Korea.
Office: +82-2-325-6585
Fax: +82-2-325-6570
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
'run by adoptees, for adoptees'.
History
The first Korean international adoptees returned to Korea in the late 80s. Korea at that time was not yet ready for those who were sent abroad for adoption. Those adoptees who lived in Korea in the 90s still had to face difficult situations. The working situation was especially difficult. Most adoptees had to work for three months and then do a so-called visa-run (leaving Korea and re-enter the country after a visit to a close by country). Many adoptees were fed up with this situation and started to gather and discuss the situation. This is one of the reasons why G.O.A.'L was founded in 1998.The first very important work under the first Secretary General Ami Nafzger was to lobby for inclusion of Korean international adoptees into the Overseas Koreans Act. This act was passed in 1999 and allowed thereafter Korean adoptees to stay on a F4 visa. The F4 visa gives every adoptee the right to reside in Korea for an unlimited time and is at the same time also a work permit.
Since 1999 G.O.A.'L has also organized annually a conference in order to raise awareness within the Korean society about the situation of Korean international adoptees. At the same time G.O.A.'L also offered various services to the Korean adoptee community. The most important part of the services is the Birth Family Search service. Among adoptees the need to search for their own roots seems to be a very important need.
Since 2002 G.O.A.'L was also incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and is registered under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 2004 G.O.A.'L is also registered as a NGO under the Seoul Metropolitan City authorities.
Since 2006 G.O.A.'L receives subsidies from the Korean government.
On December 29, 2010 G.O.A.'L opened its first overseas branch office, G.O.A.'L USA, in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
.
Main Services
- Birth Family Search in cooperation with adoption agencies, Korean and international media (KBS, YTNYTNYTN is a 24-hour news channel in South Korea. It was founded on September 14, 1993 as a subsidiary of Yonhap News Agency, and began broadcasting on March 1, 1995...
, National Assembly TV etc.) - Annual Conference
- Translation, interpretation
- Korean language education
- General support: F4 visa and many more
- Motherland tours
Activities
G.O.A.'L is also running a Dual Citizenship Campaign for adoptees which may become an important signal also for all other international adoptees. It is also advocating adoptees' rights within Korea. The Korean Nationality LawSouth Korean nationality law
South Korean nationality law defines who is a South Korean citizen, as well as the procedures by which one may be naturalized into South Korean citizenship or renounce it.-Basic definition:South Korean nationality can be acquired in a number of ways:...
revision which allows Korean adoptees to obtain dual citizenship was passed by the Korean National Assembly on 22nd April 2010 and officially announced on 4th May 2010. The revised law went into effect on January 1, 2011. G.O.A.'L also submitted a law revision of the Military Service Act to the Korean National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
in order to get Korean adoptees exempt from military service.
On April 19, 2011, 13 adoptees' reinstated their Korean citizenship during a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice facility in Gwacheon, South Korea.
External links
Office: +82-2-325-6585
Fax: +82-2-325-6570