A record-low number of South Korean children were adopted last year, official data showed Friday, partly due to a revision of the relevant law.

According to the data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, local courts granted permission for 863 children to be adopted both in the country and abroad in 2017, down from 890 a year earlier.

The decrease is partly attributable to a rules change that mandates local courts to review and grant adoptions. Previously, adoptions were possible following registration.

A total of 465 children were adopted in the country in 2017, down from 545 a year earlier, the data showed. Meanwhile, 398 children were sent abroad last year, up from 334 a year earlier.

By the region, 274 children were adopted by families in the United Sates, followed by countries like Sweden, Canada and Norway.

The number of adopted children has steadily decreased from 1,880 in 2012, 1,172 in 2014 and 880 in 2016, the findings showed. (Yonhap)