Step-by-Step Guide: Applying for Adoption Information Disclosure
- USKRG
- Oct 23, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Last Updated: January 2026
Starting in September 2025, all adoptees must pursue adoption document disclosure that was previously run through individual adoption agencies of Eastern Social Welfare Society, Holt Children's Services, Korea Social Service, and Korea Welfare Services / Social Welfare Services via Korean Adoption Services' website which can be found here.
Below is a handy guide on how to fill the forms out. This guide is split up into the following sections:
Please also view this short video tutorial if this format works better for you.
Before you Begin
GAIN CONSENT FROM YOUR ADOPTIVE PARENTS IF YOU WISH TO VIEW THE PARTS OF YOUR FILE PERTAINING TO THEM (OPTIONAL, UNLESS UNDER 18)
If you would like the section of your adoption file that includes information specific to your adoptive parents, including their application and subsequent updates such as pictures and reports sent to the adoption agency, please be sure your adoptive parents fill out the "Adoptive Parents' Consent Form". Here's how:
This can be found by clicking "Adoption Information Disclosure," then "Information."
Click "Adoptive Parents' Consent Form"
Have your adoptive parents fill out the form. Scan the image and save the file to attach to the "Adoption Disclosure of Information" forms.
DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL REASONS FOR SEEKING INFORMATION & GATHER PAPERWORK (OPTIONAL)
If your doctor resides outside of Korea: If there is a medical reason for seeking birth family information, you must get a notarized Korean translation of a doctor’s statement or medical certificate issued within the past 6 months.
If your doctor resides in Korea: If there is a medical reason for seeking birth family information, you must get a doctor’s statement or medical certificate issued within the past 6 months.
What qualifies as a medical reason for seeking birth family information? Cases where verifying the identity of the birth parents is necessary for diagnosis and treatment of a disease, specifically where information is required concerning congenital or genetic disorders, rare diseases, or the possibility of organ transplantation.
CREATE A KOREAN ADOPTION SERVICES ACCOUNT (REQUIRED)
Ensure you have signed up for a Korean Adoption Services account or sign into your existing account.
Please Note, when signing up for a new account:
Whatever your ID is, it will be case sensitive when you re-enter it to sign in. Make sure it's something you can remember.
For the birthday field, the Korean structure for dates is YYYY/MM/DD
Assuming you are a person and not an organization, for Authorized Organization, click "No"
How to fill out the "Adoption Information Disclosure" Forms
Navigate to Apply
Once signed into your account, click "Adoption Information Disclosure" from the top Menu Bar, then click "Apply." This will take you to the Adoption Information Disclosure Application screen.
Consent to Collection of Personal Information
On the "Apply" screen, click "Agree."
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Fill out Petitioner Information
✏️ Please fill in your personal details. This includes your Korean name, current phone number, address and email address and current legal English name and date of birth.
✏️ For your adoption agency, please select amoung the following choices:
- KWS (SWS)
- ESWS (Eastern)
- KSS
- Holt
- Other (such as private adoption)
- Unknown
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Select Request Type
✏️ Most adoptees want all the information contained in their file, so they click "Disclosure Including Information on Birth Parents"
Disclosure with information about your birth family
Assuming you would like information about your birth family (if it is actually in your file), be sure to check "Disclosure INCLUDING information on birth parents"
Disclosure with adoption paperwork only (No Birth Family Info)
If you DO NOT want information about your birth family (regardless of whether your file contains the information), be sure to check "Disclosure EXCLUDING information on birth parents".
Note: NCRC will only be able to provide you with information and potentially reach out if there is enough information in your file.
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Select Request Details
✏️ Most adoptees want all the information contained in their file, so they check all the boxes.
If you would like to receive all information contained in your file
Assuming you would like any and all adoption documents and any and all information about your birth family on file, you will need to check all the boxes.
If you would like only certain parts of your file
Uncheck any boxes of items you do not want.
Adoption Background: Any information pertaining to your birth family and circumstances around your adoption
Birth and Protection Information: Your personal information upon birth and any addresses or caretakers before you were adopted
Birth Parents' personal Information: information surrounding your birth parents' identities if they have been documented in your records including name, date of birth, address, and contact info.
You may fill out "Other" with the following copy-pastable text:
All documentation in my file, including but not limited to: police reports; City hall documentation; birth certificate; Hojuk; travel documents; medical reports for self and/or birth mother; official child summary; documents mentioning relatives and/or petitioners; any and all supplemental documents such as notes and/or pictures; any and all documents relating to birth family, birth circumstances, circumstances of my abandonment, foster family & orphanages. PLEASE INCLUDE ALL DOCUMENTS. ➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Specify Disclosure Method
✏️ Please choose your disclosure method. Most adoptees reside outside Korea and wish to have their files emailed, so they check "Electronic File."
If you plan to visit NCRC in person
Select "Viewing: In-person Visit" and any relevant files you would like to receive during or after your visit:"Copy/printout" or "Electronic file"
For more information on visiting NCRC in person, please view the PDF file on their website here.
If you would like files emailed
Make sure "Viewing/In-Person visit" is unchecked.
Select "Electronic File."
If you would like files mailed
Make sure "Viewing/In-Person visit" is unchecked.
Select "Copy/Printout."
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Specify Method of Receipt
✏️ Choose how you would like to receive copies of your files. Most adoptees are making their Request for Adoption Information Disclosure from the United States and therefore select "Information & Communication Network".
If you plan to visit NCRC in person
Select "In-Person Visit"
Select how you would like to receive copies during or after your visit
For Email: Select"Information & Communication Network" and make sure you have previously clicked "Electronic file" as your disclosure method
For Postal Mail: Select "Postal Mail"and be sure you have previously checked "Copy/Print out" as your disclosure method
For Fax: Select Fax and be sure you have previously checked "Copy/Print out" as your disclosure method
If you wish to receive your files and do not plan to visit NCRC in person
Select how you would like to receive your files
For Email: Select"Information & Communication Network" and make sure you have previously clicked "Electronic file" as your disclosure method
For Postal Mail: Select "Postal Mail"and be sure you have previously checked "Copy/Print out" as your disclosure method
For Fax: Select Fax and be sure you have previously checked "Copy/Print out" as your disclosure method
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Check the "Agree" Box
✏️ Please click the box agreeing to the statement "Method of Disclosure and Receipt are subject to change following consultation with the caseworker."
➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
If you have "Special Reasons for Application", please indicate that here
✏️ Please choose if you have special reasons for application such as medical reasons. Most will click "Not applicable."
If there are medical reasons for applying for Adoption Information Disclosure, such as a genetic disorder, rare disease, or need for organ transplant, you must get a doctor’s statement or medical certificate issued within the past 6 months. If the doctor resides outside of Korea, you must get a notarized Korean translation of the certificate or statement. Check the box stating you have medical reasons for seeking birth family information. ➡️ Then, scroll down to the next section.
Read carefully & Take an image or scan of required documents
✏️ Collect the required documents such as a passport or drivers license. Then take a picture or scan of it.
✏️ Click "Sign"
Sign the document
✏️ To E-sign the document, click the word "Sign."
✏️ Please create your signature in the box that opens.
Download your application form
✏️ Review the information
✏️ Click "Download" and save the file as a PDF to your desktop. You will need the PDF file for the next step.
Upload your application form
✏️ Scroll to "File Attachments" Section
✏️ Re-upload the PDF document you just saved
Friendly Reminder:
The allowed File Types are: PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, ZIP, HWP, DOC, PDF
The upload size limit is: 1GB
Attach your ID
✏️ Attach the image of your Driver's License, Passport or Alien Registration Card that you previously saved. It can be a scan or an iPhone image, as long as the image is clear and centered.
Friendly Reminder:
The allowed File Types are: PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, ZIP, HWP, DOC, PDF
The upload size limit is: 1GB
If you have obtained Doctor's statements or Medical Certificates, attach them or copies of them.
✏️ Most adoptees will not attach anything, however if you have a medical reason for seeking birth family and have obtained a medical certificate, please attach it here.
If your doctor resides outside of Korea
If there is a medical reason for seeking birth family information, you must get a notarized Korean translation of a doctor’s statement or medical certificate issued within the past 6 months.
If your doctor resides in Korea
If there is a medical reason for seeking birth family information, you must get a doctor’s statement or medical certificate issued within the past 6 months. Friendly Reminder:
The allowed File Types are: PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, ZIP, HWP, DOC, PDF
The upload size limit is: 1GB
If you have Obtained Adoptive Parental consent through the "Adoptive Parents' Consent Form" attach it here
✏️ If you have determined that you want to view the parts of your adoption file containing information relevant to your adoptive families such as their applications for adoption, background checks, social worker reports and home visit information, attach copies of the consent form here. (Directions for how to get to the form can be found in the "Before you Begin" section.)
Friendly Reminder:
The allowed File Types are: PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, ZIP, HWP, DOC, PDF
The upload size limit is: 1GB
Fill out the Captcha.
Press Submit.
OK confirmation pop up.
✏️ After pressing submit, you should see 2 pop-ups. Click OK for both. The final pop-up will confirm that KAS has received your files.
If you would like to visit the NCRC in person
Inquiries are handled by email by reservation at least five (5) business days before the intended visit. Reservations can be made up to two months in advance by emailing: familysearch@ncrc.or.kr
Main Office
Email familysearch@ncrc.or.kr or Make an appointment online to view copies of your files via website or email, however if you use the website, you will need to have already filled out a petition for Adoption Information disclosure. Address:
G Square, 7th Floor
12, Sejong-daero 22-gil Jung-gu,
Seoul, ROK
Postal Code: 04525
Route:
Subway
City Hall Station(Subway Line No.1) Exit No.4
Gwanghwamun Station(Subway Line No.5) Exit 5
Euljiro 1-ga Station(Subway Line No.2) Exit 1-1
Bus (Get off at Press Center Stop)
Blue Buses: 402, 709
Green Bus: 799
Maeul (Local) Buses: Jongno 09, Jongno 11
Airport Limousine Bus: 6701
Temporary Storage Facility
Make an appointment via email to view originals of your files:
Samsong Fresh Logistics, 4th Floor 55, Sammak 2-gil, Deogyang-gu,
Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, ROK Postal Code: 10575
Route:
Jichuk Station (Line 3 Exit 1, 3 minutes on foot)
Jichuk Station Exit 1
Bus Stop (Village Bus No. 052A –9 stops, 11 minutes)
Get off at Goyang Duclass Knowledge Industry Center / Ogeum-dong Gogae Bus Stop
(5 minutes on foot)
Temporary Archives
After Application Submission
Timelines
Days For Initial Contact | Days Until Files Delivered | Possible Extension Days | Longest Possible Time | |
Excludes Birth Family Info | 15 for Results | 15 days | 30 days | 45 days |
Includes Birth Family Info | 15 for Progress | 45 days | 30 days | 75 days |
If your requested disclosure excludes birth parent information:
Receiving your files will take up to 15 days, per the FAQ.
❗During high volume times, an extension of 30 days can be applied, bringing the total time to receiving files up to 45 days.
If your requested disclosure includes birth parent information:
You will receive notice, within 15 days, that the KAS has received your request. Receiving your files will take up to 45 days, per the FAQ.
❗ During high volume times, an extension of 30 days can be applied, bringing the total time to receiving files up to 75 days.
❗Please note We have been receiving reports from adoptees that NCRC is severely backed up due to low staffing, poor funding, and failure of the Korean Government to estimate and prioritize the work needed to serve the case complexity and volume of Korean Adoptee population. You may or may not receive timely updates from the NCRC, but some adoptees have received notes in the Progress Portal stating that there may be delays in receiving records (sometimes by months).
Check the status of your application by navigating to "Progress"
From the "Adoption Information Disclosure" dropdown, click "Progress."
Click the "Receipt Number"to view your request's status more in-depth.
You will be able to view any status updates in this window
Once your application moves to progress, you will be notified of progress such as if your birth parents can be contacted and/or your files are attached.
If no family can be found
If no family can be found, please follow our Step-by-Step Guide on how to obtain an Adoption Information Certificate and Register your DNA with your nearest local Korean Embassy in the United States or a Police Station in Korea.
NCRC's Contact Information
Adoption Information Disclosure Support Department
Email: familysearch@ncrc.or.kr
Phone Number: +82-6454-8637~8640,8642,8649
Headquarters Address
G Square, 7th Floor
12, Sejong-daero 22-gil Jung-gu,
Seoul, ROK
Postal Code: 04525
Further Birth Family Search Articles
How To Register your DNA (with the Korean Police) for Birth Family Search Step-by-Step Guide: Applying for you Alien File through FOIA
