G.O.A.'L

What G.O.A.'L does

G.O.A.'L. (Global Overseas Adoptees' Link) is a Seoul-based non-profit organization founded in March 1998 by 12 Korean adoptees who returned to Korea from the United States and Europe, registered as both a non-profit (2002) and an NGO (2004) under Korean law. It is the first adoptee-led NGO and non-profit in Korea, and it serves overseas Korean adoptees — adults adopted internationally since the 1950s, when more than 200,000 Korean children were sent to families in 15 countries — who are seeking to reconnect with Korea, search for birth families, obtain Korean visas or dual citizenship, learn the language, or stabilize after deportation or crisis.

The organization's service portfolio centers on birth family search (file review, Active Search accompanied itineraries, and DNA verification through partner DowGene and Korean National Police Agency registration), legal status recovery (F-4 visa assistance and step-by-step dual citizenship restoration, a process taking 12–24 months), Korean language scholarships at four Seoul universities (Sogang, Yonsei, Ewha, Korea University) at 20–50% discounts, and crisis support delivered through the NCRC-funded KARE Program. Cultural and community programming (KADTalks educational series, monthly KAD Konnect events, SOTDAE cohort motherland tours, Koreapedia with Seoul National University) and member amenities (G.O.A.'L. Stay furnished apartment, PACK'D meal support, subsidized mental health counseling via YPCS) round out the offering. Technology infrastructure is light: a WordPress main site (goal.or.kr) and a separate WordPress membership platform (members.goal.or.kr), with no public API and no proprietary technology product.

The business model is membership-based at $80 per year, supplemented by individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Korean Air, Export-Import Bank of Korea, Community Chest of Korea, KPMG Korea), and government program funding — most notably the KARE Program, funded and operated by the National Center for the Rights of the Child under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. G.O.A.'L. acquires members through community-led channels (events, KADTalks, KAD Konnect, volunteer programs, word-of-mouth) and serves members in 15 countries across North America, Europe, and Oceania, with active membership reported at over 900. The organization is led by a Secretary General (Louise, appointed February 2025) and Chairman of the Board (Dr. Yoo, elected 2025), with a board that includes senior figures from DowGene, LS Electric, Kim & Chang, Ernst & Young Korea, the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce, and an Honorary Board seat held by a former Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Name

G.O.A.'L

Legal name

사단법인 해외입양인연대 (Global Overseas Adoptees' Link)

Website

https://goal.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

G.O.A.'L. (Global Overseas Adoptees' Link) is the first adoptee-led Korean non-profit, founded in 1998 in Seoul, serving overseas Korean adoptees across 15 countries with birth family search, F-4 visa and dual citizenship assistance, language scholarships, and crisis support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide access to all services including family search support, visa assistance, translation services, scholarships, and exclusive events. Membership is a key revenue stream that also funds office operations and staff.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: The organization accepts donations from members and sponsors to support its mission of helping Korean adoptees. Sponsorships help fund individualized family search support, projects related to living in Korea, social gatherings, and staff salaries.
3. Government Grants and Program Funding: The KARE Program is funded and operated by the National Center for the Rights of the Child under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, providing integrated support services for adoptees in crisis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

G.O.A.'L. is a Seoul-based non-profit and the first adoptee-led NGO in Korea, providing membership-based support services to overseas Korean adoptees. Its core offerings include birth family search (including Active Search and DNA testing), F-4 visa and dual citizenship assistance, Korean language scholarships at partner universities, crisis support through the KARE Program, and community events (KADTalks, KAD Konnect, SOTDAE).

Product overview

G.O.A.'L. operates as an adoptee-led non-profit organization offering a membership-based service portfolio centered on supporting overseas Korean adoptees. The core service portfolio includes Birth Family Search (with Active Search and DNA Testing), Dual Citizenship Assistance, F-4 Visa Support, Korean Language Scholarships at partner universities, and the KARE Program for adoptees in crisis. Cultural programming includes KADTalks (educational sessions), KAD Konnect (social events), SOTDAE (motherland tours), and Koreapedia (cultural education with SNU). Additional member services include G.O.A.'L. Stay (furnished apartment), Mental Health Counseling, and PACK'D meal support. Annual membership ($80/year) provides access to all services, with individual programs also available to non-members for certain events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birth Family Search Service Assists overseas Korean adoptees in navigating the birth family search process through collaboration with Korean organizations including NCRC and Seoul Metropolitan Police. Offers file review, search planning, and reunion support.
• Active Search Hands-on search service for G.O.A.'L. members visiting Korea, enabling adoptees to visit birth places, post family search flyers, and engage with local communities. Staff or trained volunteers accompany members during searches. 130 in-person Active Searches were conducted in 2024.
• DNA Testing Services Partnership with DowGene DNA Testing Company for DNA testing between potential birth families and adoptees. Also supports DNA registration with Korea's National Police Agency for adoptees of unknown descent.
• Dual Citizenship Assistance Step-by-step guidance for adoptees to restore Korean citizenship and become dual citizens. Includes 1:1 consultations, translated application forms, pros/cons analysis, and document completion support. Process takes 12-24 months.
• F-4 Visa Assistance Assistance with F-4 visa applications for Korean adoptees and their descendants. Provides document guidance, translation services, and consultation for the multiple-entry residence visa valid up to 3 years.
• Korean Language Scholarships Scholarships for adoptees and descendants to study Korean at partner universities in Seoul: Sogang University (20-30% discount), Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University (30% discount), and Korea University (50% discount).
• KARE Program Korean Adoptees Reintegration Program providing integrated support services for deported adoptees and adoptees in crisis. Includes housing support, financial assistance, healthcare/counseling, and administrative guidance. Funded and operated by NCRC under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
• KADTalks Educational session series covering topics relevant to adoptees living in Korea, including housing, labor laws, financial literacy, visa updates, dual citizenship, and cultural workplace differences.
• KAD Konnect Monthly social gatherings for adoptees in Korea, including activities such as pottery making, pickleball, picnics, traditional music/dance performances, kimchi making, and restaurant dinners.
• SOTDAE Motherland Tour Annual motherland tour program offering a 10-day origin search journey for adoptees to connect with Korea and conduct thorough family searches. Originally a single-participant privately-funded program, expanded to group cohorts.
• Koreapedia Cultural education program partnering with Seoul National University students to provide adoptees with a fun introduction to Korean culture through university student perspectives.
• G.O.A.'L. Stay Fully furnished studio apartment in Seoul available to members at discounted rates for temporary housing while in Korea.
• Mental Health Services Subsidized mental health counseling sessions for G.O.A.'L. members living in Korea, provided through partnership with You&Me Psychological and Consultation Services (YPCS).
• G.O.A.'L. Membership Annual membership ($80/year) providing access to all services including family search support, F-4 visa and dual citizenship assistance, interpretation/translation services, Korean language scholarships, subsidized counseling, exclusive events, and discounts on G.O.A.'L. Stay and third-party services.
• Crisis Support Services Emergency support including relief goods distribution, daily-essential kits for adoptees residing in Seoul, and connections to emergency resources (police, fire/ambulance, immigration hotlines).

Quantifiable outcome

• Conducted 130 in-person Active Searches in 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry overseeing adoption policies and the National Center for the Rights of the Child. MOHW provides regulatory oversight and policy direction for adoptee services in Korea.
• National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency managing adoption records, family search services, and the KARE Program. G.O.A.'L. works closely with NCRC to assist adoptees in accessing birth family information and crisis support services.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees visa and citizenship services for overseas Koreans. G.O.A.'L. collaborates with MOFA to help adoptees apply for F-4 visas and dual citizenship through Korean embassies and consulates worldwide.
• Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency serving overseas Koreans including adoptees. G.O.A.'L. participates in OKA planning meetings including the Global Korean Future Leaders' Committee.
• Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerG.O.A.'L. partners with Seoul to provide support kits containing food and daily essentials to adoptees living in Seoul.
• Seoul National University (SNU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Koreapedia program - a language and cultural exchange between overseas adoptees and SNU students, providing adoptees with cultural insights through Korean university students.
• Sogang UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage scholarship partner offering discounted Korean language programs (KGP200 and KAP200) for adoptees through G.O.A.'L. scholarships.
• Yonsei UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage scholarship partner offering regular Korean language programs for adoptees through G.O.A.'L. scholarships. Also offers on-campus housing options.
• Ewha Womans UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage scholarship partner offering regular Korean language programs for adoptees through G.O.A.'L. scholarships with 30% discount.
• Korea UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage scholarship partner offering regular Korean language programs with 50% tuition discount for adoptees through G.O.A.'L. scholarships.
• KPMG KoreaminorOthersSince January 2020, KPMG Korea has been providing accounting services for G.O.A.'L.
• You&Me Psychological and Consultation Services (YPCS)majorOthersPartnership established June 2017 allowing G.O.A.'L. members to receive subsidized counseling sessions.
• DowGene DNA Testing CompanymajorTechnology or IntegrationDNA testing partnership for adoptees who have found potential birth families and wish to verify biological relationships. DowGene performs DNA testing between potential birth families and adoptees in Korea.
• Adoptee HubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Hope Registry for family search and collaborates on adoptee services. Adoptee Hub's Hope Registry allows adoptees to register for expanded search possibilities.
• Korean National Police AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for DNA registration services. Adoptees can register DNA with Korea's National Police Agency for family matching purposes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Holt International Children's Services: One of the largest US-based international adoption agencies, historically involved in Korean adoption. Comparable in operating around Korean adoption but vastly broader in geographic and service scope.
• National Council For Adoption (NCFA): US-based advocacy organization working on adoption policy, awareness, and post-adoption services. Comparable in adoption-focused advocacy and policy work, though serving a broader US adoption constituency.
• Eastern Social Welfare Society (한국동서사회복지회): Korean adoption agency that historically placed thousands of children overseas and continues to provide adoption-related services. Directly comparable through its role in Korean adoption history and ongoing records/search support.
• Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA): Korean government agency serving overseas Koreans including adoptees. G.O.A.'L. is a core partner. Comparable in serving overseas Koreans but as a government entity rather than an NGO.

Direct peers

• KAAN (Korean Adoptees Adoptive Family Network): US-based Korean adoptee support organization serving adult Korean adoptees and adoptive families through conferences, regional chapters, and community programming. Highly comparable in target demographic and community-building model.
• Adoptee Hub: Global adoptee-led digital platform serving Korean adoptees with family search, community tools, and the Hope Registry. Listed as a strategic partner of G.O.A.'L. and the most direct comparable in mission, audience, and service overlap.
• International Korean Adoptee Association (IKAA): International NGO holding quarterly gatherings for Korean adoptees and descendants. Comparable in building global community for the same demographic and hosting recurring events.

Others

• Dew Drops Foundation: Adoptee-led nonprofit supporting Korean adoptees with birth family search and resources. Adjacent peer serving the same demographic with overlapping birth family search services.
• Operation Empty Arms: Korean adoption-focused nonprofit providing family search support and reunion resources. Adjacent peer in adoption search services, though primarily serving the US market.

Regional players

• Korean American Coalition: US-based civic advocacy organization for the Korean American community. Comparable in diaspora-focused community services and policy advocacy, though broader than adoptee-specific services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/goalkoreaofficial
• Xx.com/goalkorea
• Facebookfacebook.com/goal.kr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about G.O.A.'L