- Headline: "[People] Dr. Boas, U.S. Advocate Supporting Unwed Mothers"
- Subheading: "Sending Unwed Mothers' Babies Abroad Won’t Solve the Problem"
- Source: Yonhap News
- Date of Publication: August 12, 2008
- Summary:
Dr. Richard Boas, an American ophthalmologist who adopted a Korean child in 1988, stressed the need to shift societal views on the adoption of unwed mothers' children in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency. He argued that these children should be viewed from the perspective of child-rearing, rather than focusing on the mother's marital status. This is Dr. Boas's fifth visit to Korea, where he is overseeing a joint study between the Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network (KUMSN), which he founded, and the Korean Women's Development Institute to assess societal attitudes toward unwed mothers. He will also participate in a Women’s Policy Forum on December 14, discussing issues surrounding unwed mothers. 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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