Danish state sued by eight South Korean adoptees over human rights violations

The Danish state faces a lawsuit from eight South Korean adoptees who allege authorities violated their human rights during their adoptions to Denmark, national broadcaster DR reports.

The legal action follows the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing’s 2024 rejection of their compensation claim, citing the statute of limitations. The adoptees argue their cases remain valid despite the time elapsed.

Denmark has launched a historical review of adoptions from the system’s inception until 2016, but the investigation will not assess the role or responsibility of Danish authorities in potential wrongdoing. The adoptees’ lawsuit seeks to challenge that exclusion.

The case is part of a broader controversy over Denmark’s mid-20th-century adoption practices, which saw thousands of children—primarily from South Korea—placed with Danish families under procedures now facing scrutiny for ethical and legal failures.