These Korean Adoptees Are Returning to Their Birth Country, to Stay

Summary

This video follows the journey of Korean adoptee Hannah as she returns to Korea after being adopted to Australia. Through her personal reflections, she explores themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges of reconciling her adopted background with her Korean heritage. Alongside other adoptees, she navigates the complexities of life in Korea, discovering both personal and community empowerment. The video delves into adoption’s impact on one’s sense of self, cultural identity, and the ongoing search for belonging, offering insights into the broader experience of transnational adoptees.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hannah, a Korean adoptee from Australia, reflects on her journey of reconnecting with her Korean roots after returning to Korea for the first time in 10 years.
• 😀 The process of adoption often leads to deep philosophical questions about identity, belonging, and self-discovery, as seen through Hannah's experience of uncovering what was lost through adoption.
• 😀 There are an estimated 200,000 Korean adoptees, many of whom were adopted internationally after the Korean War, with the majority ending up in countries like the US, Scandinavia, and Australia.
• 😀 Adoption, originally a response to the aftermath of the Korean War, became an entrenched system in the 1980s, with social stigma against single mothers playing a key role in the continued practice.
• 😀 The common narrative in media often portrays adoptees as orphans saved by adoption, but the reality is more complex, with adoptees facing a range of emotional and identity challenges.
• 😀 Coming back to Korea offers adoptees a chance to connect with their roots, their culture, and their birth families, but it also requires confronting the erasure of these aspects of their identity.
• 😀 The Korean adoption system generated millions of dollars for Korea, yet it was not driven solely by poverty but by the societal stigma surrounding single motherhood.
• 😀 Building a community of adoptees, like the one Hannah joined in Seoul, provides a sense of belonging and solidarity, as many adoptees experience shared challenges in reconnecting with their culture and identity.
• 😀 Adoptees who live in Korea must often confront their adopted identities daily, whether it's in interactions with locals or dealing with the societal expectations placed upon them.
• 😀 The journey of self-discovery is ongoing for adoptees, and despite the difficulties of adjusting to life in Korea, there are moments of liberation and fulfillment in reconnecting with their heritage.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to return to Korea after being adopted?

The speaker returned to Korea to reconnect with their roots and fill the sense of something missing in their identity, which was influenced by their adoption.

How did the speaker initially feel about their Korean identity growing up?

Growing up, the speaker resisted their Korean identity and tried hard to fit in by acting white, actively rejecting their Korean roots.

What is the significance of the speaker's first trip back to Korea?

The first trip back to Korea was significant as it exposed the speaker to Korean culture, food, and their birth family, marking a profound shift in their understanding of self.

How did the speaker describe the process of uncovering their identity after adoption?

The speaker compares uncovering their identity to slowly revealing a fossil, suggesting that their journey to understand their past and identity is ongoing and gradual.

What was the role of the Korean adoption system after the Korean War?

The Korean adoption system grew as a humanitarian response to the war, initially focusing on mixed-race children, and later expanding to orphans and children of single mothers, continuing through the 1980s.

What is the typical narrative about adoptees in the media, and how does the speaker challenge it?

The common media narrative depicts adoptees as orphans saved by adoption, often showing their tearful reunions with birth families. The speaker challenges this by emphasizing the complexity and nuance of adoptees' experiences.

How has the speaker's perception of Korea changed after returning?

The speaker's perception of Korea changed drastically upon return, as they were exposed to a vibrant, dynamic place, and the experience allowed them to feel a sense of belonging and connection to their heritage.

What is the importance of the adoptee community for the speaker?

The adoptee community provides a sense of solidarity, where adoptees share common experiences and understand each other’s struggles with identity, which was deeply comforting for the speaker.

What role does the speaker believe adoptees can play in Korean society?

The speaker believes that adoptees, by living between worlds, bring a unique perspective that can help transform Korean society into a more just and inclusive place, benefiting not only adoptees but also single mothers and the broader society.

What activity does the speaker engage in to foster self-expression and community in Korea?

The speaker organizes a dance event inspired by 'No Light No Lycra,' where people dance in a dark room to express themselves non-linearly, providing a space for mental health and community-building.