Fitting In
Although every Korean adoption story is different, there are some similarities that surround international adoption stories about Korean American adoptees. Children of mixed race are not always freely accepted in Korean society and children adopted from Korea into the United States are not always easily accepted in American society. (Jang, 98) Many children adopted into interracial families were subject to feeling out of place within their own families and within the society they lived due to the stigma surrounding adoption and xenophobic attitudes present in some communities in the US. Overall, Korean adoptees have a higher percentage of suicide, mental illness, drug addiction resulting from feeling of displacement and lacking a sense of belonging, (Hjern 2002) However, many Korean adoptees also go on to live happy, healthy lives.
Interracial Adoption vs. Same Race Adoption and "Adoptism"
"Adoptism" is similar to racism and rears its ugly face in multifaceted ways. Often when children are adopted into an interracial family, there is an obvious distinction that exists between the races from inside the family and to the outside world. A child adopted into an interracial family is often consistently aware of their adoption from an early age. Therefore, "adoptism" reveals itself as projected feelings onto adoptees as identifying as a misfit or lack of belonging. "Adoptism" also reveals itself through sympathy for the "abandoned child" and the adoptive parents as the the "savior", and the adoptee as the one needing saved; therefore, highlighting the problem of American exceptionalism, which often perpetuates racism. (Rivera)
However, many families that are adopted into "same race" families never experience the associated stigmas of "adoptism" and thrive as anyone does in a healthy family environment. As presented in our interview with Kim Sook Kyung, who was a Korean adoptee, adopted into a Chinese American family, she recalls never feeling like an outsider, nor did she think of herself as an adoptee.
However, many families that are adopted into "same race" families never experience the associated stigmas of "adoptism" and thrive as anyone does in a healthy family environment. As presented in our interview with Kim Sook Kyung, who was a Korean adoptee, adopted into a Chinese American family, she recalls never feeling like an outsider, nor did she think of herself as an adoptee.
23andMe - Finding One's Genetic History
23andMe is the first and only genetic service to meet FDA standards that is sent directly to one's home to collect DNA, and in return provides scientifically valid genetic history. This information circulated among a Facebook group called Korean American Adoptees, in which a member tried it out, and found that she was actually distantly related to another member of the Korean American Adoptee group. Thomas Park Clemente, an Indiana-based inventor and scientist who is also a Korean American Adoptee, donated $1 million to help fund the DNA kit project, and also offered to cover the $100 fee for any Korean adoptee who wanted one. This is currently offered only to Korean adoptees, but Clemente is working to change that.
More and more Korean adoptees are using this tool, aiding them in the fight to end the ambiguity of their identity. Many adoptees do not know anything about their birth mother, and any of their families, for that matter. Knowing their genetic history and relatives is a big relief for adoptees, and can add closure to some of the wonder. Korean adoption was a closed affair for many years, and the country's privacy laws added a barrier for adoptees' research.
"Everyone on the planet has a right to know who their relatives are," Clemente had said.
More and more Korean adoptees are using this tool, aiding them in the fight to end the ambiguity of their identity. Many adoptees do not know anything about their birth mother, and any of their families, for that matter. Knowing their genetic history and relatives is a big relief for adoptees, and can add closure to some of the wonder. Korean adoption was a closed affair for many years, and the country's privacy laws added a barrier for adoptees' research.
"Everyone on the planet has a right to know who their relatives are," Clemente had said.
American Exceptionalism
The beginnings of Korean Adoption begins with US imperialism disguised as "militarized humanitarianism", and "cold-war geopolitical orientalism". (Pate) Altough, most of the United States at large has a favorable opinion of adoption, one of heroic mythos, many of adoptees opinions have not been recognized in data. When Holt decided to create "Holt Adoption Agency", he claimed he was " to bring korean war orphans from the cold and misery, and darkness of Korea, into the warmth and love of American Homes". (Donnell, 2013) This concept that Korean children need to be saved from Korea and brought to a morally superior country perpetuates xenophobic attitudes and prejudice, and promoting the myth of the "white man's burden". The ideologies of "American exceptionalism" presume that America’s values, political system, and people are unique and worthy of global praise. They also imply that the United States is supposedly entitled to play a role of savior or hero to the rest of the world. The impact that this can have on the adoption experience is greater than it is recognized in the United States because instead of understanding what the adoptee has experienced or lost is overpowered by the myth that they have been saved by coming to the United States.
Korean Adoptee Associations
Many Korean adoptees search for groups and forums to communicate with other Korean adoptees in order to find a sense of community, Korean identity, or to promote Korean adoption awareness and to participate in Korean adoption reform. Many forums and organizations exist to unite Korean adoptees all across the world.
Some of these include...
Pictured: Jane Jeong Trenka, Leading activist for Korean adoption reform
Some of these include...
- The Association for Korean Adoptees-San Francisco @ http://www.aka-sf.org
- www.experienceproject.com/groups/amakoreanadoptee,
- https://adoption.com/forums/46/korea-adoption/,
- http://www.koreanfocus.org/
- KAD
- GOA'L
Pictured: Jane Jeong Trenka, Leading activist for Korean adoption reform
Korean Adoption Reform
In 2012, the Korean National Assembly implemented the Special Adoption Law, crafted by a coalition of adoptee activists and allies like GOA'L. The law explicitly discourages sending children abroad. With this new law, birth mothers must nurse babies for seven days before the child can be considered for adoption. If a Korean mother does choose adoption, they must verify her consent, and her child's birth has to be registered in Korea. Lastly, a mother can choose to revoke the adoption up to six months after her application. (Chan)
Most of the reform surrounding Korean adoption has been organized by Korean adoptees all over the world who are actively involved in the political process in Korea.
Most of the reform surrounding Korean adoption has been organized by Korean adoptees all over the world who are actively involved in the political process in Korea.