Gender

Hi,Policies on gender vary by agency. In other words, some agencies allow it, others do not. I would find out what agency or agencies work in your state and ask them.MM

Yes, it varies by agency. Ours used to let you specify a gender for Korea, but their current policy is that you have to be open to either gender.

I agree with the above posters. The issue is not Korean law or policy. American adoption agencies don't like the fact that, because most Americans want to adopt girls, boys wind up staying in orphanages for a long time, while long waiting lists develop for families requesting female infants. As a result most agencies will not allow gender choice for first-time parents. Some may allow choice for people who already have boys and want to balance their families, or for people who will be having children share a bedroom and currently have a girl. The best thing to do is to contact agencies that work in your state and ask about their policies on gender selection. Sharon

More likely than not, youll be matched iwth a girl regardless. I have seen several televised adoption stories, and am a Korean adoptee myself, and from all I've seen, girls are adopted from Korea, China, etc. much more often than boys, although boys are available.

Actually, the situation with Korea is the opposite of China's. Boy referrals are more likely when you cannot specify gender. Sharon

There was such a need for boys with my agency, they called us and asked it was could expedite our home study. Of course we did, and we received our referral five weeks after HSTK. Definitely more boys than girls being adoption internationally from Korea.