In the 1980s the number of children leaving South Korea for adoption was extremely high. In recent years it has dwindled to a trickle. This has been caused primarily by the restrictions placed not only on adoption by foreigners but overall adoption by South Koreans themselves within their country. Despite the fact that there are many South Korean children who are in need of permanent families, these restrictions remain in place making even domestic in-country adoptions very difficult. This is certainly not good for these children.