- Headline: "A Child Born in Korea is the Future of All Koreans"
- Subheading: American Doctor Boas Advocates for Unwed Mothers in Asia
- Source: Hankook Ilbo
- Date of Publication: June 6, 2007
- Summary:
Dr. Richard Boas, an ophthalmologist from Connecticut and the adoptive father of a Korean-born child, shared his experiences and advocacy efforts. In 1988, he adopted his daughter Esther, born in Busan, which led him to confront the realities faced by unwed mothers in Korea. During his first visit to Korea in 2006, Dr. Boas discovered that many unwed mothers in the country are forced to give up their children due to poverty and societal stigma, often enduring deep feelings of loss and guilt. This realization inspired him to begin advocating for the rights and support of Korean unwed mothers. Upon returning to Connecticut, Dr. Boas founded an organization aimed at assisting unwed mothers and their children in Korea and other parts of Asia. During his current visit to Korea, he has partnered with the Korean Women’s Associations United to promote amendments to the Mother and Fatherless Child Welfare Act, focusing on securing government-level support for single-parent families. Dr. Richard Boas, an ophthalmologist and adoptive parent, began his advocacy journey after adopting a daughter from Korea in 1988. Following his retirement, Dr. Boas worked in the United States to support families interested in adoption, sharing the joy he experienced as an adoptive parent. As part of these efforts, he visited Korea in 2006. During this visit, he witnessed the systemic challenges faced by unwed mothers, including societal stigma and economic hardships, which often left them with no choice but to relinquish their children for adoption. This realization shifted his perspective, as he recognized that the joy of adoptive parents was often built upon the sorrow of separation endured by unwed mothers and their children.
Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Boas ceased his work supporting adoptive families and, in 2007, redirected his efforts to raising funds and launching initiatives aimed at improving the lives of unwed mothers in Korea. In 2008, he founded the Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network (KUMSN), establishing a Secretariat that included Consultant Ellen Furnari and Executive Director Heejung Kwon, alongside staff members Eunjoo Kang, Jiyoung Yoo, Seulgi Lee, and Seunghee Han.
Under Dr. Boas’s leadership, KUMSN became Korea's first advocacy organization dedicated to the rights of unwed mothers. The organization actively worked to improve public perceptions of unwed mothers and provided three years of research funding to the Korean Women’s Development Institute to support systematic policy research related to unwed mothers. In 2012, upon his departure from Korea, Dr. Boas was awarded the Civil Merit Medal for his contributions to advancing the rights and welfare of unwed mothers in Korea. KUMSN subsequently transitioned into a legally registered organization and continues its work to support unwed mothers and promote social awareness. 
The English summary and translation of this article is provided by UMI4AA.
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