History
The first Korean international adoptees returned to Korea in the early 70s. 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.
Read more about this topic: Global Overseas Adoptees' Link
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