A story of a Korean maternity home faking an infant’s death and arranging an illegal adoption to an Australian family may not be true, according to Korean news reports.

Last month, Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service reported the story of “Emily Will,” who recently found her biological parents and was told that they were tricked into giving her up. The parents told Will that a midwife who helped with Will’s delivery lied about Wills because she sought adoption fees.

But the Korean adoption agency that arranged Will’s adoption claimed last week that her parents willingly relinquished her custody, according to two local media outlets, Yonhap News Agency and Dong-A Ilbo.

“She (Will’s birth mother) felt guilty (for the adoption) and told Will’s two older sisters that she died right after birth,” said the Easter Social Welfare Society. “Will’s sisters told her, ‘We thought you were dead,’ and it must have led to a misunderstanding.”

The adoption agency said it has a finger printed document to support its claim.
By Yoon Min-sik and news reports
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)