geordie of overseas adoptees from korea beginning from the 1950s went to the US
beginning from the 1950s went to the US
beginning from the 1950s went to the US the rest went to different european
the rest went to different european
the rest went to different european countries especially scandinavia some
countries especially scandinavia some
countries especially scandinavia some went to your some went to Canada and
went to your some went to Canada and
went to your some went to Canada and Australia Adam is one of two hundred
Australia Adam is one of two hundred
Australia Adam is one of two hundred thousand Korean overseas adoptees two
thousand Korean overseas adoptees two
thousand Korean overseas adoptees two hundred thousand in November 2016 just
hundred thousand in November 2016 just
hundred thousand in November 2016 just before Thanksgiving Adam arrived in
before Thanksgiving Adam arrived in
before Thanksgiving Adam arrived in Korea for the first time since he was
Korea for the first time since he was
Korea for the first time since he was adopted he had been deported from the
adopted he had been deported from the
adopted he had been deported from the very country he was adopted into as a
very country he was adopted into as a
very country he was adopted into as a young child all his life he lived as an
young child all his life he lived as an
young child all his life he lived as an American citizen on paper he never was
American citizen on paper he never was
American citizen on paper he never was he was met at the airport by officials
he was met at the airport by officials
he was met at the airport by officials and a representative from global
and a representative from global
and a representative from global overseas this link and ngoen career
overseas this link and ngoen career
overseas this link and ngoen career working for adoptees he had a pet to
working for adoptees he had a pet to
working for adoptees he had a pet to sleep in a place to call home even if it
sleep in a place to call home even if it
sleep in a place to call home even if it were against his will
were against his will
were against his will unlike Adam the other deported adoptees
unlike Adam the other deported adoptees
unlike Adam the other deported adoptees who were right before him were dropped
who were right before him were dropped
who were right before him were dropped at the airport and left alone by the
at the airport and left alone by the
at the airport and left alone by the immigration officers who escorted them
immigration officers who escorted them
immigration officers who escorted them from the u.s. they were left without any
from the u.s. they were left without any
from the u.s. they were left without any money without any knowledge of Korean
money without any knowledge of Korean
money without any knowledge of Korean language without any friends not knowing
language without any friends not knowing
language without any friends not knowing where they were where to go or how to
where they were where to go or how to
where they were where to go or how to get anywhere most have experienced
get anywhere most have experienced
get anywhere most have experienced homelessness some eventually ending up
homelessness some eventually ending up
homelessness some eventually ending up committing a crime in desperation to
committing a crime in desperation to
committing a crime in desperation to survive as of 2018 Adam and all the
survive as of 2018 Adam and all the
survive as of 2018 Adam and all the other deported adoptees among the 18,000
other deported adoptees among the 18,000
other deported adoptees among the 18,000 Korean overseas adoptees without
Korean overseas adoptees without
Korean overseas adoptees without citizenship or unverified citizenship of
citizenship or unverified citizenship of
citizenship or unverified citizenship of adopter country many adoptees have since
adopter country many adoptees have since
adopter country many adoptees have since the late 1980s returned to Korea showed
the late 1980s returned to Korea showed
the late 1980s returned to Korea showed a long-term the longest term comes more
a long-term the longest term comes more
a long-term the longest term comes more than two decades solid statistics are
than two decades solid statistics are
than two decades solid statistics are very difficult to identify but empiric
very difficult to identify but empiric
very difficult to identify but empiric experiences in the community of adoptees
experiences in the community of adoptees
experiences in the community of adoptees in Korea show that the trend of adoptees
in Korea show that the trend of adoptees
in Korea show that the trend of adoptees resettling shorter long term continues
resettling shorter long term continues
resettling shorter long term continues and that the strong continues and ever
and that the strong continues and ever
and that the strong continues and ever changeable community of adoptees in
changeable community of adoptees in
changeable community of adoptees in korea is permanent so what does this
korea is permanent so what does this
korea is permanent so what does this mean I like other adoptees felt on to
mean I like other adoptees felt on to
mean I like other adoptees felt on to come here for reasons I can’t articulate
come here for reasons I can’t articulate
come here for reasons I can’t articulate I did not come here because I find my
I did not come here because I find my
I did not come here because I find my birth family or wish to find them I have
birth family or wish to find them I have
birth family or wish to find them I have a mass of law and I worked for the
a mass of law and I worked for the
a mass of law and I worked for the Danish public authorities for 12 years I
Danish public authorities for 12 years I
Danish public authorities for 12 years I had a nice apartment in the heart of
had a nice apartment in the heart of
had a nice apartment in the heart of hipster Copenhagen and I had a salary
hipster Copenhagen and I had a salary
hipster Copenhagen and I had a salary high enough to travel overseas twice a
high enough to travel overseas twice a
high enough to travel overseas twice a year and trips within Europe in between
year and trips within Europe in between
year and trips within Europe in between I grew up in the happiest country in the
I grew up in the happiest country in the
I grew up in the happiest country in the world and yet I said goodbye to the
world and yet I said goodbye to the
world and yet I said goodbye to the comfort of my old lifestyle and
comfort of my old lifestyle and
comfort of my old lifestyle and exchanged it for an insecure income
exchanged it for an insecure income
exchanged it for an insecure income unstable job situation and without any
unstable job situation and without any
unstable job situation and without any prospects of making a career what I
prospects of making a career what I
prospects of making a career what I gained instead it’s the opportunity to
gained instead it’s the opportunity to
gained instead it’s the opportunity to try to make a difference for fellow
try to make a difference for fellow
try to make a difference for fellow adoptees like Adam through my work at an
adoptees like Adam through my work at an
adoptees like Adam through my work at an NGO providing assistance for adoptees
NGO providing assistance for adoptees
NGO providing assistance for adoptees creating awareness and enabling adoptees
creating awareness and enabling adoptees
creating awareness and enabling adoptees to live in korea organizations for
to live in korea organizations for
to live in korea organizations for Korean adoptees in Denmark France
Korean adoptees in Denmark France
Korean adoptees in Denmark France Belgium Italy the Netherlands the US and
Belgium Italy the Netherlands the US and
Belgium Italy the Netherlands the US and many more countries akf adopted Korean
many more countries akf adopted Korean
many more countries akf adopted Korean Association celebrated its 30th
Association celebrated its 30th
Association celebrated its 30th anniversary in Sweden in 2016 I grew up
anniversary in Sweden in 2016 I grew up
anniversary in Sweden in 2016 I grew up in the happiest country in the world yet
in the happiest country in the world yet
in the happiest country in the world yet I
I
I chose to say goodbye to the comfort of
chose to say goodbye to the comfort of
chose to say goodbye to the comfort of my old lifestyle and exchanged it for an
my old lifestyle and exchanged it for an
my old lifestyle and exchanged it for an unstable job situation insecure income
unstable job situation insecure income
unstable job situation insecure income and without any prospects of making a
and without any prospects of making a
and without any prospects of making a career what again instead of the
career what again instead of the
career what again instead of the standard of my Danish high standard of
standard of my Danish high standard of
standard of my Danish high standard of life was the opportunity to try and make
life was the opportunity to try and make
life was the opportunity to try and make a difference for fellow adoptees like
a difference for fellow adoptees like
a difference for fellow adoptees like Adam through my work at an NGO working
Adam through my work at an NGO working
Adam through my work at an NGO working for adoptees creating awareness and
for adoptees creating awareness and
for adoptees creating awareness and enabling adoptees to live in Korea in
enabling adoptees to live in Korea in
enabling adoptees to live in Korea in Korean society community and belonging
Korean society community and belonging
Korean society community and belonging acorus Confucianism still influences
acorus Confucianism still influences
acorus Confucianism still influences society strongly meaning that every
society strongly meaning that every
society strongly meaning that every Korean person knows his suburb blood
Korean person knows his suburb blood
Korean person knows his suburb blood type and can trace the family family
type and can trace the family family
type and can trace the family family roots many generations back on the
roots many generations back on the
roots many generations back on the family registry and adoptees registry
family registry and adoptees registry
family registry and adoptees registry there’s us only us in Korea with
there’s us only us in Korea with
there’s us only us in Korea with foreigners but we’re not.we Korean but
foreigners but we’re not.we Korean but
foreigners but we’re not.we Korean but we’re not deported here or here by our
we’re not deported here or here by our
we’re not deported here or here by our own free choice Adam I and all the other
own free choice Adam I and all the other
own free choice Adam I and all the other Korean overseas adoptees are the are
Korean overseas adoptees are the are
Korean overseas adoptees are the are outsiders and with that commonality we
outsiders and with that commonality we
outsiders and with that commonality we created our own society and with that
created our own society and with that
created our own society and with that commonality we created our own community
commonality we created our own community
commonality we created our own community the NGO I work for was founded 20 years
the NGO I work for was founded 20 years
the NGO I work for was founded 20 years ago by American and European adoptees
ago by American and European adoptees
ago by American and European adoptees seeking a space to belong in Korea their
seeking a space to belong in Korea their
seeking a space to belong in Korea their organizations for Korean adoptees in
organizations for Korean adoptees in
organizations for Korean adoptees in Denmark France Belgium Italy the
Denmark France Belgium Italy the
Denmark France Belgium Italy the Netherlands Switzerland Australia the US
Netherlands Switzerland Australia the US
Netherlands Switzerland Australia the US and many more countries in the
and many more countries in the
and many more countries in the late-1990s and international gathering
late-1990s and international gathering
late-1990s and international gathering for international for international
for international for international
for international for international Korean overseas adoptees was held for
Korean overseas adoptees was held for
Korean overseas adoptees was held for the first time in Washington then in
the first time in Washington then in
the first time in Washington then in Oslo then in Seoul over the years these
Oslo then in Seoul over the years these
Oslo then in Seoul over the years these gatherings have taken place every 30 and
gatherings have taken place every 30 and
gatherings have taken place every 30 and Seoul and Europe and US and between the
Seoul and Europe and US and between the
Seoul and Europe and US and between the biggest gather more than 500 adoptees
biggest gather more than 500 adoptees
biggest gather more than 500 adoptees and the families before the internet
and the families before the internet
and the families before the internet existed these groups were the only way
existed these groups were the only way
existed these groups were the only way to
to
to connect with other overseas Korean
connect with other overseas Korean
connect with other overseas Korean adoptees to exchange experiences about
adoptees to exchange experiences about
adoptees to exchange experiences about adoptee identity searching for and being
adoptee identity searching for and being
adoptee identity searching for and being reunited with birth family the
reunited with birth family the
reunited with birth family the organization’s host cultural events
organization’s host cultural events
organization’s host cultural events create a compile experiences and create
create a compile experiences and create
create a compile experiences and create social networks as the community grows
social networks as the community grows
social networks as the community grows older the organization’s expand the
older the organization’s expand the
older the organization’s expand the focus to families children and
focus to families children and
focus to families children and grandchildren of adoptees who want to
grandchildren of adoptees who want to
grandchildren of adoptees who want to learn Korean and eat kimchi but these
learn Korean and eat kimchi but these
learn Korean and eat kimchi but these groups created 30 years ago has become
groups created 30 years ago has become
groups created 30 years ago has become something very powerful in Korea we’re
something very powerful in Korea we’re
something very powerful in Korea we’re working with the government and creating
working with the government and creating
working with the government and creating a system that enables Adam and the other
a system that enables Adam and the other
a system that enables Adam and the other deported adoptees have a somewhat decent
deported adoptees have a somewhat decent
deported adoptees have a somewhat decent life here we’re working on changing
life here we’re working on changing
life here we’re working on changing policies and legislation we support each
policies and legislation we support each
policies and legislation we support each other and other groups in society
other and other groups in society
other and other groups in society disconnected from the mainstream younger
disconnected from the mainstream younger
disconnected from the mainstream younger overseas adoptees come to us
overseas adoptees come to us
overseas adoptees come to us Korean overseas adoptees now asking how
Korean overseas adoptees now asking how
Korean overseas adoptees now asking how we created the community we have wanting
we created the community we have wanting
we created the community we have wanting to research it explore it and become a
to research it explore it and become a
to research it explore it and become a part of it because they have the same
part of it because they have the same
part of it because they have the same need to belong National Assembly finally
need to belong National Assembly finally
need to belong National Assembly finally realized that the petition of adoptees
realized that the petition of adoptees
realized that the petition of adoptees is an issue when another deported
is an issue when another deported
is an issue when another deported adoptee who came years before Adam
adoptee who came years before Adam
adoptee who came years before Adam finally had enough and jumped from a
finally had enough and jumped from a
finally had enough and jumped from a building in May 2017 I and other
building in May 2017 I and other
building in May 2017 I and other representatives from the adopted
representatives from the adopted
representatives from the adopted community Harry Phillips coffin despite
community Harry Phillips coffin despite
community Harry Phillips coffin despite protests from the funeral house employee
protests from the funeral house employee
protests from the funeral house employee because women do not usually do this in
because women do not usually do this in
because women do not usually do this in Korea an adoptee from NGO transported
Korea an adoptee from NGO transported
Korea an adoptee from NGO transported Phillips ashes to the US and returned
Phillips ashes to the US and returned
Phillips ashes to the US and returned them to his adoptive parents so he
them to his adoptive parents so he
them to his adoptive parents so he should not have to rest in a country he
should not have to rest in a country he
should not have to rest in a country he did not wish to be in sadly we failed in
did not wish to be in sadly we failed in
did not wish to be in sadly we failed in preventing
preventing
preventing Stud but the community heard when adam
Stud but the community heard when adam
Stud but the community heard when adam desperately called out for help on
desperately called out for help on
desperately called out for help on social media when american immigration
social media when american immigration
social media when american immigration officers knocked on the door to his home
officers knocked on the door to his home
officers knocked on the door to his home three years ago adoptive groups in the
three years ago adoptive groups in the
three years ago adoptive groups in the u.s. tried to help him by rallying for
u.s. tried to help him by rallying for
u.s. tried to help him by rallying for changes in the citizenship legislation
changes in the citizenship legislation
changes in the citizenship legislation in korea we were able to notify
in korea we were able to notify
in korea we were able to notify officials under the government who had
officials under the government who had
officials under the government who had no clue that his removal case have been
no clue that his removal case have been
no clue that his removal case have been initiated the removal process took
initiated the removal process took
initiated the removal process took almost two years we made sure other
almost two years we made sure other
almost two years we made sure other adoptees visited Adam while he was in
adoptees visited Adam while he was in
adoptees visited Adam while he was in detention detention centers are prison
detention detention centers are prison
detention detention centers are prison like facilities are managed by American
like facilities are managed by American
like facilities are managed by American immigration you have no right to see a
immigration you have no right to see a
immigration you have no right to see a judge you have no right to legal
judge you have no right to legal
judge you have no right to legal representation and you can be held
representation and you can be held
representation and you can be held indefinitely at worst as I heard it from
indefinitely at worst as I heard it from
indefinitely at worst as I heard it from Adam the tension is pretty horrible and
Adam the tension is pretty horrible and
Adam the tension is pretty horrible and you will do anything to get out of there
Adam was picked up at Incheon Airport by
Adam was picked up at Incheon Airport by faces that by then had become familiar
faces that by then had become familiar
faces that by then had become familiar to him from visits in detention he has
to him from visits in detention he has
to him from visits in detention he has been taken care of by an organization
been taken care of by an organization
been taken care of by an organization under the government and NGOs including
under the government and NGOs including
under the government and NGOs including mine the other deported adoptees who
mine the other deported adoptees who
mine the other deported adoptees who came before him did not know about the
came before him did not know about the
came before him did not know about the community of Korean overseas adoptees so
community of Korean overseas adoptees so
community of Korean overseas adoptees so for the first time ever in the history
for the first time ever in the history
for the first time ever in the history of adoptees being deported back to Korea
of adoptees being deported back to Korea
of adoptees being deported back to Korea Adam was the first who had a community
Adam was the first who had a community
Adam was the first who had a community when he came here he’s still mourning
when he came here he’s still mourning
when he came here he’s still mourning the loss of his American life watching
the loss of his American life watching
the loss of his American life watching his daughter’s grow up to Skype he gets
his daughter’s grow up to Skype he gets
his daughter’s grow up to Skype he gets frustrated by the hoops he must jump
frustrated by the hoops he must jump
frustrated by the hoops he must jump through in order to keep a roof over his
through in order to keep a roof over his
through in order to keep a roof over his head he’s still trying to figure out
head he’s still trying to figure out
head he’s still trying to figure out what it means I’ve been reunited with
what it means I’ve been reunited with
what it means I’ve been reunited with birth family and how to manage when
birth family and how to manage when
birth family and how to manage when well-meaning people tell him how lucky
well-meaning people tell him how lucky
well-meaning people tell him how lucky he is by going public with his story he
he is by going public with his story he
he is by going public with his story he everything at stake but he also became
everything at stake but he also became
everything at stake but he also became part of our community and he has paved
part of our community and he has paved
part of our community and he has paved the way for other adoptees and similar
the way for other adoptees and similar
the way for other adoptees and similar situations creating awareness that there
situations creating awareness that there
situations creating awareness that there is a community of us who are willing to
is a community of us who are willing to
is a community of us who are willing to do what we can to help you
do what we can to help you
do what we can to help you just because we’re overseas Korean
just because we’re overseas Korean
just because we’re overseas Korean adoptees Adam wasn’t the first who
adoptees Adam wasn’t the first who
adoptees Adam wasn’t the first who needed our community
needed our community
needed our community unfortunately I’m sure he will not be
unfortunately I’m sure he will not be
unfortunately I’m sure he will not be the last thank you
the last thank you
the last thank you [Applause]
”
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