Dongari Switzerland is an association for Korean adoptees in Switzerland. It was founded in January 1994 and has steadily grown from 8 members to around 150 members in 1997. There are about 1200 Korean adoptees living in Switzerland which is a rather small group compared to the official number of 132'000 all over the world. There are even estimates from 150'000 to 200'000.

We organize several activities such as picnic, ski-weekend, panel-discussions etc. Many of our members have found their birthparents or relatives in Korea (some even through the help of Dongari) and have since visited their motherland. Dongari tries to support its members by offering a platform where everything about Korea and adoption can be discussed. We do have several connections to the Korean community in Switzerland and to Korea. Dongari's official publication is the "Dongari News" that appears twice a year.

After a longer period, the Dongari homepage is arisen. We know that the old version of this site was published in english. In the mean time, there have been several changes inside the Dongari association. In the matter of fact this association is primary for Adoptees living in Switzerland and we have restricted resources and human manpower. We decided to publish this site in the future only in german.

Jan Wenger, the former Administrator of this Site left the Organisation. We would like to thank him very much for supporting our interests on the web. We wish him a good time and hope to hear from him.

Don't worry. The most important information concerning adoption, family search and links to other organisations and adoption agencies are also available in english.

Try to get a copy of your files from your local adoption agency. You will probably find some details such as case number and other things that might be important. the details are not necessarily correct (birth dates).

Try to go directly to the adoption agency (see also the list of the adoption agencies) in Korea. Contact them and ask if they have any information on your case.

It might be that you can't get any further information from the adoption agency. In that case you still have the choice to go to the mass-media. The problem nowadays is that you should try to get to know a person with good relations. Either you try to get an article in a national newspaper (Chosun Ilbo, in Korean only) and other maybe local newspapers. Or try to go to a tv station ( KBS (English Service), MBC (in Korean only), SBS etc.). Nowadays those tv stations often have some shows with Korean adoptees who are searching on.

Try to get as many pieces of information together BEFORE you go to Korea. And try to get a contact person in Korea. If you know any Koreans from your local Korean community, they would probably be willing to help. Otherwise if you really don't know anyone, send an email and we will try to get you some help.

Holt Children's Services, Inc.
382-14, Hapjung-dong, Mapo-ku
C.P.O. Box 2536
Seoul, Korea
Phone: ++82 (2) 324-6509
Fax: ++82 (2) 335-6319

E.C.W.S. - Eastern Child Welfare Society
493, Chang chon Dong, Sodaemun-Gu
Sodaemun P.O. Box 241
Seoul, Korea
Phone: ++82-2-332-3941/5
Fax: ++82-2-333-1588

K.S.S. - Korea Social Service
Ssang Mun - Dong 533-3, Do Bong - Gu
Do Bong P.O. Box 88
Seoul, Korea
Phone: ++82 (2) 908-9191/3
Fax: ++82 (2) 908-3344

S.W.S. - Social Welfare Society 
(Achtung: Webpage ist in koreanischen Zeichen)
5th Floor, 718-35, Yeoksam-Dong, Kangnam-Ku
Seoul, Korea
Phone: ++82-2-557-5078
Fax: ++82-2-552-1019