Why Are So Many Korean Americans Adopted? | AJ+

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  • Опубліковано 16 вер 2019
  • One out of every 10 Korean Americans are adopted. But why? And what’s it like for adoptees to return to their birthland for the first time?
    Untold America follows one Korean American teenager from the suburbs of Boston to the city of Seoul to meet his foster mother for the first time since he was adopted.
    Special thanks:
    Mike Mullen, Also-Known-As (AKA): www.alsoknownas.org
    Katie Bozek, The Korean American Adoptee Network (KAAN): www.wearekaan.org/
    Alyssa Jeong Perry
    Resources/Further Reading:
    “Adopted Territory: Transnational Korean Adoptees and the Politics of Belonging” by Eleana J. Kim
    “30 years later, this Korean adoptee finds ‘home’ again” by Shawyn Lee, PRI: www.pri.org/stories/2019-01-3...
    “Pity the Children”, The Economist: www.economist.com/asia/2015/0...
    #KoreanAdoptees #Adopted #KoreanAmerican
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 860

  • @ajplus
    @ajplus  4 роки тому +518

    Are you adopted, or do you know someone who was? Even if you weren’t, can you relate to the identity struggles in this piece?

    • @tylerhackner9731
      @tylerhackner9731 4 роки тому +16

      I definitely can relate.

    • @jojojroeb7417
      @jojojroeb7417 4 роки тому +38

      In America we base so much of our lives on fitting in. I grew up Black in a mainly white community and tried ,but in the end never white enough or Black enough, You just have to find your own Identity .Love being you

    • @Jordanalm
      @Jordanalm 4 роки тому +15

      My dad was adopted from Korea, would like to go on tour but I'm not sure if I can afford it, plus I'm not sure if they'll let me come because I'm not directly adopted

    • @cheyennecollier3078
      @cheyennecollier3078 4 роки тому +7

      I knew an older woman that was adopted from Korea and she was able to return as a small child since her family was military. She had more issues growing up concerning societal racism than anything else.

    • @PeterAaronMyhre1967
      @PeterAaronMyhre1967 4 роки тому +6

      @@Jordanalm there are programs and scholarships that may help you, My name is Peter Aaron Myhre, you can find me on fb with that name. dm me and I may be able to help with some resources

  • @thereisa
    @thereisa 4 роки тому +2402

    "What are you looking forward to most?"
    "Definitely the snacks."
    Spoken like a true Korean XD

    • @sidaranesong324
      @sidaranesong324 4 роки тому +33

      @@itsukinakamura8547 omg u so cringey

    • @zanychjkm7580
      @zanychjkm7580 4 роки тому +5

      @@itsukinakamura8547 ??

    • @bren8926
      @bren8926 4 роки тому +9

      @@itsukinakamura8547 ofc your Japanese ugh

    • @illegalhunter7
      @illegalhunter7 4 роки тому +9

      Itsuki Nakamura trollll

    • @welp4576
      @welp4576 4 роки тому +11

      Itsuki Nakamura the demand for anime is large in America. Americans also enjoy your products.

  • @Bb-jm2xl
    @Bb-jm2xl 4 роки тому +1620

    “I have 2 mommys ”
    “I have 3”
    Rekt

  • @PRDreams
    @PRDreams 4 роки тому +1859

    My heart broke when she said she loves her kid but wish he wouldn't have need to be adopted. Even I can't reconcile that. What a strong woman. I cried with her.

    • @maria3625
      @maria3625 4 роки тому +39

      Itsuki Nakamura no one

    • @pipruka8691
      @pipruka8691 4 роки тому +31

      Itsuki Nakamura I can’t properly understand what you’re trying to express and although I agree Japan is a cool place I don’t think you could say that one is better than the other.

    • @user-oz5cm4lf6u
      @user-oz5cm4lf6u 4 роки тому +8

      @@itsukinakamura8547 stop copying and pasting

    • @Brit15102
      @Brit15102 4 роки тому +14

      Itsuki Nakamura I think you need anger management

    • @itsukinakamura8547
      @itsukinakamura8547 4 роки тому

      maria Shut up

  • @primadonna82
    @primadonna82 4 роки тому +1598

    Awww...Alex has amazing parents. Not everyone is that blessed.

    • @lorriebarr736
      @lorriebarr736 4 роки тому +39

      Alex doesn't seem to appreciate what his parents did for him. Maybe it's his age, but he has an air of resentment and entitlement. It's as if he feels like he is owed a sense of belonging in Korea, yet he doesn't feel comfortable assimilating and being nice to people who are trying to embrace him.

    • @primadonna82
      @primadonna82 4 роки тому +180

      @@lorriebarr736 He is 13 years old. You're expecting a bit too much from someone who just turned teenager.

    • @dr3amgodd3ss
      @dr3amgodd3ss 4 роки тому +106

      Esther Song I agree. Look at his body language how he was holding onto his dad’s shoulder walking through the market! To me, that says enough that he’s still a child and felt scared and out of place.

    • @brax5783
      @brax5783 4 роки тому +38

      @@lorriebarr736 mate he's 13, at 13 you don't really understand the significance of such a moment, you're really only starting to learn life lessons lmao

    • @Ayveh
      @Ayveh 4 роки тому +1

      He really does, so happy for him that they adopted him :D

  • @reneeroesler9944
    @reneeroesler9944 4 роки тому +1045

    It's sad many Koreans don't adopt other Koreans. That's why international adoption is a big thing in SK.

    • @salvadorkim9211
      @salvadorkim9211 4 роки тому +10

      No
      So many Korean parents are adopting other K-orphans.

    • @reneeroesler9944
      @reneeroesler9944 4 роки тому +227

      @@salvadorkim9211 No, they aren't. Did you not watch the video? They've said it in tons of other videos too. The problem is South Koreans rarely adopt South Koreans so that's why there so many international adoptions. There's a huge stigma being a single mom which is why so many are up for adoption in the first place. Plus, they are big on being related by blood so that's why many don't adopt.

    • @lissandrafreljord7913
      @lissandrafreljord7913 4 роки тому +11

      Cha In Pyo and Shin Ae Ra did. But yea, adopting orphans is still seen as a tabboo.

    • @kianaone2610
      @kianaone2610 4 роки тому +14

      Well it's like in the US probably. It's seriously hard to adopt a child from the US, but WAY easier to adopt a child from somewhere else.

    • @ericjson
      @ericjson 4 роки тому +27

      @@reneeroesler9944 I'm a korean born in america but I've lived in korea for a while and i can tell you that adoption is very well prevalent in korea, it's just that the rate of increasing orphans are much more higher than the rate that they are getting adopted. :)

  • @hamzasr6501
    @hamzasr6501 4 роки тому +696

    bro i started crying when the foster mom cried. it took literally a single second

    • @Ayveh
      @Ayveh 4 роки тому +2

      I faught those tears, I am not in my room so I definitely don't want to cry infront of others. Ahhh such a touching scene T_T

  • @Slappysan
    @Slappysan 4 роки тому +1075

    Woo boy.... who is cutting those damn onions, man?

    • @catm2454
      @catm2454 4 роки тому +1

      sooooo many onions

    • @sonesunny7632
      @sonesunny7632 4 роки тому +1

      The orphanage part hit me hard... I feel so blessed to have my biological parents...

    • @user-jy9wg6wq7l
      @user-jy9wg6wq7l 4 роки тому

      Opps! Hello Japanese guy? You guys looove so much Ginger.

    • @hahahwhat
      @hahahwhat 4 роки тому

      same😭

    • @itsukinakamura8547
      @itsukinakamura8547 4 роки тому

      고한별 shut up

  • @sarahchoi2657
    @sarahchoi2657 4 роки тому +580

    I’m full Korean and I speak fluent Korean but even I feel foreign whenever I visit Korea. I can’t imagine what it’s like for them.

    • @lionessprowess3581
      @lionessprowess3581 4 роки тому +57

      It's culture shock. I get it too whenever natives from my parents Homeland realize I'm wasn't from there.

    • @lukeseo4879
      @lukeseo4879 4 роки тому +5

      그러게요. 얼마전에 우연히 알게 된 입양 됐던 친구가 있는데...
      그런거 같아요

    • @nytrex_yt7417
      @nytrex_yt7417 4 роки тому +6

      Same with me as a filipino

    • @scarlett7557
      @scarlett7557 4 роки тому +9

      I feel you. I'm Chinese and I visit China sometimes and it's really odd to stand in the line for foreigners at the airport. It's a really strange, indescribable feeling.

    • @jacintachevon
      @jacintachevon 4 роки тому +9

      I'm not Korean (not even asian) but I live here and grew up here in Korea. It's super weird because I feel korean but I'm not actually korean. I feel out of place when I visit America.

  • @akunijohn9429
    @akunijohn9429 4 роки тому +171

    To my birth parents out there I just wanna let you guys know that I'm doing good. I don't know anything about you guys but God knows I understand why you had to leave me and I hope that I'd be able to meet you both. I love you from a far.

    • @burntcheesecake1710
      @burntcheesecake1710 4 роки тому +8

      Akuni John Awwwwww 🥺

    • @Hihihihi.c
      @Hihihihi.c 4 роки тому +2

      🥺🥺🥺

    • @heatherfuentes2196
      @heatherfuentes2196 2 роки тому

      Awww! I feel the same way. Great to hear things like this...things I can relate to.

    • @natashaknowles5285
      @natashaknowles5285 Рік тому

      ❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢

    • @doggpound9319
      @doggpound9319 8 місяців тому

      Lol they're not going to read this, you wrote that for likes and attention.

  • @jmh5515
    @jmh5515 4 роки тому +274

    I'm a Korean Adoptee and can relate to a lot of what was said in this piece. I think this was well done and beautifully told!

  • @yugioht42
    @yugioht42 4 роки тому +575

    I know the feeling of being foreign in your birth country. I may not be adopted but I was born in China then moved to the Us when I was 4. I pretty much adopted a US lifestyle and I don’t speak any Chinese at all. I don’t remember China at all. When family from China come see me basically they have no idea what to think as me and my family don’t act Chinese we barely speak Chinese and have no idea how to act. I haven’t been back to China yet mostly due to just life and health issues but I am planning to finally return to my birth country for the first time in thirty years sometime next year. I wonder what they’ll make of me.

    • @ernestkj
      @ernestkj 4 роки тому +46

      Hey I'm 3rd gen Chinese born in America and with almost zero connection to China. I have worked in Shanghai for almost 2 years and they(mainland chinese) won't and never see you as their own kind. They called people like me bananas, white inside, yellow outside.

    • @peter320vn
      @peter320vn 4 роки тому +20

      They'll see you as foreigner that may have money.Don't try to connect with everyone, they'll scam you.

    • @erdood3235
      @erdood3235 4 роки тому +15

      I'm feeling you buddy. I was born in Israel to Jewish immigrants from the USSR who are culturally Russian. My big brother speaks and reads Russian, but I don't, because some shitty expert said to my parents that because i'm an autist, I couldn't learn 2 languages as a baby/small child (I'm 21 now). And for context, Jewish immigrants from the USSR and former USSR countries and their children have their own culture in Israel, and a huge part of it is speaking Russian.
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language_in_Israel

    • @joyjoyoo
      @joyjoyoo 4 роки тому +1

      Us Chinese will love you. Never forget your root!!!

    • @xAyaTx
      @xAyaTx 4 роки тому +5

      Don't be afraid! To us Chinese, family means a lot. I've recently met my family from China and although I didn't speak fluent mandrin they were very welcoming and treated us well. I've been trying to improve my mandrin ever since. Just understand that Western and Eastern hospitality is quite different. I'm sure there will be some culture shock but it's all in the process of learning.

  • @devirachman5442
    @devirachman5442 4 роки тому +20

    Alex's parents are so loving...I can see that they love Alex just as if he was their own biological son. So touching and adorable to see..

  • @kevinli7346
    @kevinli7346 4 роки тому +52

    Alex is truly blessed having such loving parents.

  • @JS-vp6wg
    @JS-vp6wg 4 роки тому +94

    6:21 can we take a moment to appreciate the adoptee’s parents mindset and understanding

  • @indyyoutubeaccount9826
    @indyyoutubeaccount9826 4 роки тому +377

    “Looks like your eating thanos”

  • @ccb7061
    @ccb7061 4 роки тому +108

    I volunteered at a Korean Orphanage when I studied abroad. The babies were 0-6months when I met them so they should be around 1 1/2 to 2 now. I wish I could know how they were doing and if they were adopted. I remember wishing I could adopt them all. They were all so cute and precious and happy babies. I pray they’re doing well now and forever🙏

    • @Ultra_Fine_Point
      @Ultra_Fine_Point 4 роки тому +4

      You have an amazing soul.

    • @LovatoLover22
      @LovatoLover22 4 роки тому +1

      You're an Amazing person you are!

    • @liberiangirl8382
      @liberiangirl8382 4 роки тому +2

      Hi there... thats my dream.. i really want to go and volunteer at the orphanage..could you give me some pointers if you have time.. thank you so much

    • @charismarie6612
      @charismarie6612 4 роки тому +2

      Surayah Bodkin same! I’d love to hear more!

    • @ccb7061
      @ccb7061 4 роки тому +2

      I volunteered through a partnership my study abroad program had with the orphanage. The CIEE Seoul Arts and Sciences Program.
      It was called Eastern Social Welfare Society, located in Hongdae. (I remember taking a bus, maybe 7737, into Hongdae from Yonsei university, and then walking a bit) It wasn’t only an orphanage, but helped mothers and their babies as well as other things.

  • @maryannrogers8675
    @maryannrogers8675 Рік тому +7

    This is the best made documentary about Korean adoptees. I have two children adopted from South Korea (son age 27 and daughter age 24) I’ve had the privilege of traveling to South Korea twice on motherland tours. My first trip was with my daughter who got to meet her foster mother. I went two years later with my son who got to meet his birth mother. Before the motherland tour I always said the happiest day of my life was when I met my son at the airport. After the tour to South Korea the happiest day of my life was when I got to meet and thank my sons birth mother. It was truly a humbling experience.

  • @MaggieMags430
    @MaggieMags430 4 роки тому +131

    Reporter:Hi perry!
    Kid: He doesn’t talk
    Me:😂😭😂😭😂

  • @liyazulu3529
    @liyazulu3529 4 роки тому +240

    I just personally think it’s the duty of the family planning to adopt to try their best to teach and encourage that specific child to learn about their birth culture ,language and foods so they don’t grow up feeling lost ! If it’s a black kid or Asian kid or Hispanic teach them about their culture and languages so when they grow up they can feel a sense of belonging

    • @kimberly3076
      @kimberly3076 4 роки тому +3

      liya zulu I agree with this

    • @caleviwin
      @caleviwin 4 роки тому +6

      As an Irish person who cant celebrate their own culture i think thats a good idea. I mean yeah theres still irish culture but yknow...the British kinda uh...well almost destroyed it.

    • @yootoobsamantha
      @yootoobsamantha 4 роки тому +18

      I agree, but there might be a feeling of disconnect at some point like, "why is my American mom and dad trying to teach me Korean culture?? What do they know?” Though this is just a possibility, not saying that trying is a bad idea. Parenting is hard no matter the circumstance.

    • @madeleineprice2774
      @madeleineprice2774 4 роки тому +2

      liya zulu I didn’t agree with you because culture is a construct, until you said so they feel they have a sense of belonging that’s valid. I disagree that it is the parents duty but recognizing is definitely well and going so far to teach is even better

    • @iswearshewas1866
      @iswearshewas1866 4 роки тому +2

      It would much easier if ethnic parents would only allow people of the same ethnic to adopt their child. Less or no difficulties to learn their originial culture and language which results in less work for the parents and less problems for the kids if they want to meet their parents

  • @hwaranni
    @hwaranni 4 роки тому +72

    it's the saddest when the foster and adoptive parents are so emotional during the reunion yet the child feels Nothing at all, no emotional attachment towards the foster mother, they're practically strangers. i can't imagine the foster mother's feelings.

    • @lenorepaletta9267
      @lenorepaletta9267 4 роки тому +10

      I was this way. It’s overwhelming. I could not process all the emotion in real time. It’s traumatic.

    • @GigiMurakami
      @GigiMurakami 2 роки тому +2

      Yeah I agree.

  • @chestnutbean1885
    @chestnutbean1885 10 місяців тому +7

    I'm a Korean American adoptee. I don't feel like I need to meet my birth parents out of curiosity or otherwise- I was very lucky and my adoptive parents were the best parents I could have ever asked for. But I sometimes wish that I could somehow telepathically tell my birth parents that I've had a blessed life here in America and that they made the right choice to put me up for adoption. I hope they don't have any bad feelings or worry about me. I hope that they don't think about me too much and that they have good lives.

  • @kayla4821
    @kayla4821 4 роки тому +29

    If you adopt a child from another country, I think it’s important that they keep in touch with their culture as much as possible.

    • @freezing5
      @freezing5 10 місяців тому

      Agree! Keep in touch with family members, too.

    • @THErealOGse
      @THErealOGse 8 місяців тому +1

      ​@@freezing5if they want to. Some adoptees like my brother in law only want medical history. Other situations like my brother who is adopted his birth mom wants nothing to do with him because nobody knows about him and that painful part of her life. He has made peace with it.

  • @marykathleensapp6937
    @marykathleensapp6937 4 роки тому +29

    🇺🇸/🇰🇷 I love the way Alex holds on to his Dad's shoulder as they go through the market! Best wishes to a great young man!! His parents love him so very much... a handsome young man❤

  • @sapphirexwind
    @sapphirexwind 4 роки тому +96

    I heard that the adoptions are slowing down more these days due to some of the issues mentioned in this video being a concern, and because Korean society is slowly changing. However, watch "The Baby Box" documentary to see what often happens today.

    • @bonniefurman7476
      @bonniefurman7476 4 роки тому +1

      There are children in these countries that loss a loving family and may live in places that don't have enough loving people to care, love, and teach them what they need to live in the world around them. Some maybe rejected by many of the people in their own country. The issues with adoption are not simple but we can turn our back on children that need of loving home.

    • @bonniefurman7476
      @bonniefurman7476 4 роки тому +2

      We can not turn our back on children in need of a loving home.

    • @xcmskim4
      @xcmskim4 3 роки тому +1

      Today, no one is having kids in Korea. Elementary schools are closing and the workforce is shrinking. Married parents in Korea have either one kids or no kids.

  • @liongkienfai104
    @liongkienfai104 4 роки тому +941

    "The U.S. had 2 million soldiers serving in Korea during the war, and many of them used Korean women for sex."
    Hold up, what? Comfort women? People always talk about the Japanese using comfort women, but Americans get a pass?

    • @IAmGlutton4Life
      @IAmGlutton4Life 4 роки тому +100

      I'm not surprised as always happens man

    • @jailynshade3027
      @jailynshade3027 4 роки тому +148

      Kevin Alam Liong Kien Fai the difference is they werent forced

    • @permafrost8894
      @permafrost8894 4 роки тому +25

      how dark and miserable history korea has... :((
      ;-;

    • @peach8982
      @peach8982 4 роки тому +148

      Jailyn Shade Yes many of them were. If you read the book the shadow of camptown, about the experiences of Korean sex workers during the war many of them talk about how they were forced into prostitution.

    • @farahaneesa8892
      @farahaneesa8892 4 роки тому +57

      *comfort women* is arrange and rule by Japanese government but other country didn't do that the soldier the one who did that without the government support..

  • @ajsuflena156
    @ajsuflena156 3 роки тому +13

    alex's parents have such a realistic viewpoint on adopting and mature approach! Loving parents !

  • @tadesubaru1383
    @tadesubaru1383 4 роки тому +68

    This is the purest thing I've ever seen, look at that boy

  • @KS-qy5lt
    @KS-qy5lt 3 роки тому +7

    Very touching video - my wife and I are Korean lucky enough to have our own parents, and we always had talks of having our own child plus adopting a Korean child. I really wanted to applaud and thank all the moms and dads far away for adopting these special children, who definitely deserves better than being in an orphanage.

  • @mixjuxmixjux9387
    @mixjuxmixjux9387 4 роки тому +19

    when i went back to korea and was able to meet my foster mother with my mother and father (adoptive) and it was so amazing to see her and be able to connect with her. the language barrier was huge and hard but then this past summer when i knew more korean i was able to spend an entire day with my foster mother and her husband and children who took care of me as a baby before my adoption. it was an amazing experience to meet those who took care of me and loved me when no one else was able too ❤️

    • @YouT00ber
      @YouT00ber 4 роки тому +1

      mixjuxmixjux thanks for sharing your experience!

  • @holaphoebe
    @holaphoebe 4 роки тому +33

    For those that are saying the adoptive parents should immerse the child in their birth culture, it is not that simple. I’m not adopted but I’m a first generation Asian American. I’ve been raised with language, food, and some elements of culture. But even though I’m NOT adopted, by being American and living in the US, there’s just no way you can assimilate into your parents’ culture seamlessly. You feel and look like a foreigner if you go “back” to your parents’ country. The same will apply for any adopted kid, even if they learn about their birth country.

  • @marchveris
    @marchveris Рік тому +4

    10:30 Look at the foster mom showing affection. She wants to hug him but she is careful. It shows her experience.

  • @nancylee147
    @nancylee147 2 роки тому +2

    For me, this video was amazing. I came across if randomly. I cried almost the entire video. Thank you for sharing...

  • @jenniferlovallo6503
    @jenniferlovallo6503 4 роки тому +3

    Thank you so much for sharing this informative and touching story/stories. To have the opportunity to experience where you came from and to possibly meet birth family...there is no way to describe the tremendous amount of overwhelming feelings. It is a lot to take in. I think that these young adults handled these experiences very well. It is wonderful that their adoptive parents are there giving them all the support and love. My birth mom gave me life, but the loving people who raised me are who I consider "my parents" -- mom and dad. Infant Korean adoptee 1971.

  • @philipyang9593
    @philipyang9593 4 роки тому +1

    What an amazing story.
    I really think its courageous for parents who decide to adopt children. Its a challenge and a blessing.

  • @Evalsya
    @Evalsya 4 роки тому +27

    I shed some tears unconsciously towards the end ...

  • @papaya5416
    @papaya5416 4 роки тому +64

    If I was to ever adopt an child from an different country I would have them learn they’re native language so they can have some relation with there original country

    • @kimberly3076
      @kimberly3076 4 роки тому +7

      Little Biscuit ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ Me too, I’d learn the language with them.

    • @jaypainespotter
      @jaypainespotter 4 роки тому

      My parents did that for me, even though I learn, some of the slang is still hard for me to comprehend so I end up sticking out like sore thumb anyway! Haha

    • @vianjelos
      @vianjelos 4 роки тому

      Its a lot easier said than done. Even kids who grow up with bio parents that speak a different native langauge often arent fluent in it or feel self concious speaking it to non relatives. For a kid whos parents dont even speak it, it will be that much more difficult. Even with school and friends that speak it. Language has to be consitiant for children to retain it and be fluent.

    • @shanasakai2238
      @shanasakai2238 3 роки тому

      Yes, I agree with you. As a parent it's your responsibility to teach your child his or her purpose, origin and etc in life. I don't want my child to experience the feeling of being left out.

  • @densitypop
    @densitypop 4 роки тому +6

    Such brilliant work, Dolly! It's so good to see you producing AJ+ stories!!!

  • @clevertechbot
    @clevertechbot 4 роки тому +4

    I went on the same tour in 2016 and the year before this one. I had no idea Al Jazeera was filming last year's trip! Great video. Credit to Alex for being on camera his first time back at that age. His mom seems like a very educated and informed person too.

  • @downflatdown6604
    @downflatdown6604 4 роки тому +18

    Yes. Please keep making these films

  • @bricsontos3504
    @bricsontos3504 4 роки тому +6

    Oh man. So many tears.
    I’m mixed Korean/White/Native American, but my Korean halmeoni is the matriarch of our family and one of the most important people in my life. Growing up, she made sure my family was very connected with our Korean heritage. But eventually, I realized I didn’t look like the girls in the shows she put on the TV. I tried so hard to - even cutting my own bangs at 7 years old because I thought it’d make me more Korean. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grappled with whether I can even claim Korean culture as mine when I’m vaguely white-passing, can’t speak the language fluently, and have never been there. It’s a weird feeling, almost as if I’ve had my childhood ripped out from under me.
    Anyways, my experience is definitely not the same as that of the kids in this video, but I felt elements of their story hit close to home. I hope they’re happy and find a way to understand and accept their complex identities, just as I hope to with mine.

  • @misa6608
    @misa6608 4 роки тому +24

    I'm not crying... you are😢

  • @alexoh4699
    @alexoh4699 4 роки тому +10

    God bless the parents who gave them up for a better future.
    God bless the parents who adopted the kids for a better future.
    I hope Alex enjoyed Korea and learn more about his heritage.

  • @darlenerenae9895
    @darlenerenae9895 4 роки тому +2

    I love how much he is loved. Very blessed!

  • @EstebanGomez-ye6lk
    @EstebanGomez-ye6lk 4 роки тому +3

    Beautiful and heartwarming video ❤️

  • @1313sp
    @1313sp 3 роки тому +1

    That was really heart wrenching.

  • @isabelleaguilar4135
    @isabelleaguilar4135 4 роки тому +44

    5:16 looks like your eating thanos 😂

  • @akossarfo-kantanka7231
    @akossarfo-kantanka7231 Рік тому +5

    As a biracial woman (half Ghanaian) who is not adopted; I feel a strange connection to these kids. No matter how much love and care our parents give us, there’s just always a part of you that knows were different, and it makes it hard to feel fully connected to either cultures. This longing to just feel “normal” seems to never go away.

  • @markmahan38
    @markmahan38 4 роки тому +99

    I wish this had come out about 30 years ago. I still can't get info about my information before I was adopted. And I am pretty sure I have relative in Korea, but can't get anywhere in finding out. And I know a lot about my years before I was adopted with my younger brother.

    • @ConnorBrosnahan
      @ConnorBrosnahan 4 роки тому +9

      Mark, there is an entire community of Koreans in the same situation, I started by doing a DNA test, then found that there is a group on FB, Korean American Adoptees, that are all in similar situations as you.

    • @davidjacobs8558
      @davidjacobs8558 4 роки тому +5

      why do you want to find out what happened to you? it's only going to be an unhappy story.
      truth is ugly, your Korean relatives in Korea don't give a damn about you.
      If you manage to find them somehow, it's not like they will welcome you with open arms.
      they will just say, "so what if we are related? what do you want from me?"

    • @minuxo3062
      @minuxo3062 4 роки тому +9

      @@davidjacobs8558 what a horrible thing to say. you don't know whether or not hiss relatives give a dam about him. they even said in the video some babies were given away without the parents consent/taken from them by family members. how do you know he wasn't one of those babies?

    • @davidjacobs8558
      @davidjacobs8558 4 роки тому +1

      @@minuxo3062 I can say with 99.99% certainty that Koreans don't care about anybody who is not their biological son or daughter. cousins and nephews are not much more than complete strangers. If you are of in-laws, you are worse than strangers. that's how it rolls in Korea.

    • @minuxo3062
      @minuxo3062 4 роки тому +5

      ​@@davidjacobs8558 explain the foster mother then. That wasn't her biological son and even so many years later she still cared enough to see him.

  • @katchup
    @katchup 2 роки тому +1

    such a wonderful story, thanks a lot!!

  • @amosusername
    @amosusername 3 роки тому +2

    I wish nothing but the best for all of these adoptees. For bright futures, and accepted into the societies they are adopted into.

  • @donut645
    @donut645 4 роки тому +40

    being adopted is weird. you don’t feel like you belong where you live, and you don’t feel like you belong in your birth country.

    • @HKim0072
      @HKim0072 4 роки тому +2

      Many 1.5 generations go through similar feelings. It's not totally unique.

    • @JazzyCrumbles
      @JazzyCrumbles 4 роки тому +2

      In this increasingly globalized world, I think that's a feeling that can happen a lot. Ex, I was born and raised for 10 years in Brazil, but then I moved to the USA and assimilated. In the USA, I was never American enough, and now that I'm in Brazil, I'm a gringa, not Brazilian enough.

    • @andromedamessier3176
      @andromedamessier3176 3 роки тому

      I guess it is just like mix people. But I learn to just say “I’m human”

    • @Chels4hair
      @Chels4hair Місяць тому

      ​@@JazzyCrumbles I learned that it's ok to be Caribbean American and that I am accepted into that group, so I surround myself with people of the same identity as me. I learn to not care what Jamaican AND Trinidadians say I know who I am and they can't take that away from me. Be proud in your ethnicity and culture don't make anyone make you feel like you don't belong. Especially if you learned the language and history of your ethnicities❤

  • @hlnjhr2foine
    @hlnjhr2foine 4 роки тому +6

    It must be hard to do something like this as a 13 year old. Low to mid teenage years are kind of a difficult age in terms of knowing or expressing yourself. But I can totally see why he would want to do this and I hope he can go back again when he's older.

  • @wardagainstuber
    @wardagainstuber 4 роки тому +44

    "anyone look familiar"
    Lol Savage dad

  • @ZombiePenguinStudios
    @ZombiePenguinStudios 4 роки тому +23

    dam, this was a tear jerker

  • @user-qq4zb1yt5r
    @user-qq4zb1yt5r 4 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much for this video

  • @cutestcatintheuniverse3303
    @cutestcatintheuniverse3303 2 роки тому +3

    As an adult TCK who has many serious family issues, I can relate to adoptees in so many ways. I want adoptees to know that they're not alone, hope that they love themselves and find inner peace.

  • @Ice-nl1du
    @Ice-nl1du 4 роки тому +3

    I've met quite a few Korean Adoptees in Korea. Some look for their birth parents but some don't they're just back in Korea to explore their roots. Most of them doesn't speak Korean they just look Korean but are American inside. It's fascinating meeting them when I've only heard stories on UA-cam. Most of them are really fortunate on how their lives turned out to be. I'm really happy for them

  • @xochiltg.s.4935
    @xochiltg.s.4935 4 роки тому +1

    I've always wanted to adopt so it's great that I can see these videos to understand more to better handle anything that comes with my future kid.

  • @Jc22ny
    @Jc22ny 3 роки тому

    Such touching stories! its something innate we all want to be loved and somehow belong.

  • @ajsuflena156
    @ajsuflena156 3 роки тому +1

    the foster mom alex met was so cute bless her heart for taking care of these babies

  • @juliadetmer1310
    @juliadetmer1310 4 роки тому +9

    I was adopted from South Korea and have struggled with my identity a lot even though my parents are amazing. I also grew up in a city that was not diverse at all and went through a lot of the similar things in this. I definitely want to go back sometime

    • @juliadetmer1310
      @juliadetmer1310 4 роки тому

      Pamela Gc that's closer to enough and I don't think that a child saying they want to search for their birth family is bad or unreasonable. Like I only see my adoptive parents as my parents. I do want to know about my birth mother and if she's okay, if she remembers me and stuff. It could also depend on how old was the child when she/ he was adopted. But honestly, I feel like if you are open with adoption and willing to talk it will actually make it easier. I was involved in Korean culture camps and they made my childhood a lot easier seeing other kids that looked like me. I wish I learned Korean though and was immersed more with the culture in my teenage years besides being a CIT for the camp.

    • @Stinger913
      @Stinger913 2 роки тому

      I empathize but I grew up near NY so a little more diverse but I never engaged with my Korean identity until college.

  • @xiao130
    @xiao130 4 роки тому +1

    no children should be thrown away. feeling heart wrenching for the adopted kids cause no matter how “normal” they are trying to be, you can see through their “act” which is the result of days after days of self comforting. This is the saddest thing.

  • @Just4Kixs
    @Just4Kixs 4 роки тому +12

    Wow, I cried when I saw the foster mom cry 😭😭

  • @Pandasaurus19
    @Pandasaurus19 4 роки тому +33

    My cousin is an adoptee from Korea. As we knew each other from infants, I never thought of him as being different or not belonging. As we grew up, he began to experience many of the difficulties in this video and I was confused at the time, not understanding why or what was going on. While i can't ever fully appreciate the difficulties adoptees face growing up, I did experience a sliver of it through one of my closest relatives. Hats off.

    • @davidjacobs8558
      @davidjacobs8558 4 роки тому +1

      everyone experience hardship as they grow and mature and just generally living human life.
      but adopted child will think "Is this happening because I'm adopted?"

    • @erickim6533
      @erickim6533 4 роки тому +6

      All adoptees have Identity issues to overcome but mixed race adoptions make it a bit tougher because it's not just an internal struggle but also external. Identity issues esp through childhood trauma affects many different people(orphans, biracial, sexually confused, ect). They want to BELONG because they didn't feel like they belonged as a child.

    • @firstlast-cs6eg
      @firstlast-cs6eg 4 роки тому

      Well he shouldn't have experienced any difficulty unless he was facing racism from somewhere else.

    • @andromedamessier3176
      @andromedamessier3176 3 роки тому +1

      In the teenage years, that is when puberty hit and the confusion start. It is like they are alternating between maturity and immaturity. Puberty is when all sort of problems arise like identity problems. It just one of the most hard and confusing weird for most people. For adopted children, their identity crisis hit them hard the most during that time.

    • @eyeswideopen7777
      @eyeswideopen7777 Рік тому

      Trauma of loss comes up later in life

  • @mayish3r332
    @mayish3r332 4 роки тому +39

    Nobody:
    Boy: It looks like your eating thanos

  • @KitKat-hn5gd
    @KitKat-hn5gd 4 роки тому +7

    Language plays very significant role for adapting to a new environment.

  • @lucky20lw
    @lucky20lw 4 роки тому +13

    Thank you for the video!

  • @pennkun
    @pennkun 4 роки тому +4

    This is so wholesome. Aigoooo

  • @JMB-xb2xh
    @JMB-xb2xh 3 роки тому +1

    I am adopted from South Korea. I was from Seoul my mother was 18. I also have a half biological sister who lives thirty minutes away from me and was adopted by my adoptive aunt. This video was so relatable lol. I am so lucky to have stumbled upon this video my sister and I would love to try to find our bio mom or our mom who blessed us with life.

  • @MzFoRi3
    @MzFoRi3 3 роки тому +1

    I lost it when Alex met his foster mom, it was so touching.

  • @johannageisel5390
    @johannageisel5390 4 роки тому +41

    This was touching.
    I had no idea so many Korean babies were internationally adopted.

    • @johannageisel5390
      @johannageisel5390 4 роки тому +1

      @Fangirl 791 That's so sad. :(

    • @NikkisLife16
      @NikkisLife16 4 роки тому

      Fangirl 791 how has the process become more difficult? like in what circumstances if you don’t mind me asking.

  • @jamescrabtree3469
    @jamescrabtree3469 3 роки тому +3

    I'm an Amer Asian adopted at the age of 12 (Holt adoption agency), in 1979. I'm now 54, retired and happy to be here in the states. This made me cry, knowing how many Amer Asian kids still suffer to this day in that country. I was old enough to remember Korea, and I feel blessed to have been adopted at such an "older " age.... thanks a million for doing this piece.

  • @nw6gmp
    @nw6gmp 4 роки тому +2

    Great Job Dolly!

  • @np2679
    @np2679 4 роки тому +10

    Wow very informative.

  • @marbii8955
    @marbii8955 4 роки тому +19

    "It looks like ur eating thanos" lol

  • @celisachoo7900
    @celisachoo7900 4 роки тому +2

    Early on I had a good self esteem so being adopted didn’t bothered me. Also, I don’t blame whoever person brought me into this world for anything. I believed my life is my own making, either good or bad. And, any weaknesses, I found a way to use as fueling to strengthen and move on to have a optimistic out look of life. Life is the what you make of, it’s up to individuals.

  • @TheKalokng
    @TheKalokng 3 роки тому

    very touching

  • @_luukas
    @_luukas 4 роки тому +3

    Omg, tell him he needs to go to Concordia Language Villages, I’ve been there for 4 yrs and counting at the korean camp, and it is amazing!

  • @magemyst7245
    @magemyst7245 3 роки тому

    am envious, look at all the love his getting from the two moms. Alex is lucky

  • @hibiscus752
    @hibiscus752 4 роки тому +1

    This made me tear up.

  • @amberfrankel8121
    @amberfrankel8121 4 роки тому +5

    I started crying when they met his foster mom

  • @BushidoBrownSama
    @BushidoBrownSama 4 роки тому +2

    I live in MA & one of my former co-workers was also adopted from S.Korea.

  • @Gingeriffic
    @Gingeriffic 4 роки тому +1

    I can relate. I am Korean American. Born in Korea adopted by my white parents (who I love and gave my twin sister and I a better life) Sadly our birth mother passed away just a handful years after we were adopted. My parents have always and encouraged us to learn everything Korean, sadly cant speak korean. But we have been back to Korea in 07' and it was one of the best trips I have gone on.

  • @GenerationZ313
    @GenerationZ313 4 роки тому +1

    Honestly any children of immigrants can relate since I myself was born in Canada but my family were from Cambodia. When I did visit 10 years ago it felt so strange being around people who are supposed to be of the same ethnic origin but also not necessarily feeling at home at all.

  • @janolsen8572
    @janolsen8572 4 роки тому +3

    Our now 15-year-old son was adopted. Although we're Danes, we can full related to this. Two years ago, we traveled to Seoul on our own and visited some of the sites related to his adoption. Many of the said things in this video is similar to the thoughts and sentences we have had. We have been very open about his adoption (with certain limits though), have said the same things about having three mothers and being crazy about the snacks. Thanks for this emotional video. Cheers

  • @skylinechannel246
    @skylinechannel246 4 роки тому +1

    Hey Alex, I am adopted and from South Korea and live in America! Stay strong man 💪💪👊

  • @kaystarlo
    @kaystarlo 4 роки тому

    This made me cry

  • @squarebobspongepants3630
    @squarebobspongepants3630 4 роки тому +52

    I'm not adopted but when I was in my 20s I lived in Taiwan and had a serious relationship with a lady there. I found out that she was pregnant and a few months later I had to leave Taiwan because my Visa was expired. After that I lost complete contact of her. This happened in the early 90s so the only way of communication was through a phone call. I went back to Taiwan two years later but I it turns out she had moved to some other city.

    • @MissSyntha
      @MissSyntha 4 роки тому +19

      find her and ask for forgiveness

    • @holzerisms
      @holzerisms 4 роки тому +17

      Bruh yo child could b reading dis rn

    • @reflexionesdelabiblia6711
      @reflexionesdelabiblia6711 4 роки тому +11

      so your child may have been given up for adoption.

    • @Miquelalalaa
      @Miquelalalaa 4 роки тому +1

      @@MissSyntha It's not his fault

    • @HKim0072
      @HKim0072 4 роки тому +7

      Dude - you don't have her ID number or something like that? Obviously hindsight is 20-20, but seems a bit irresponsible.

  • @xcmskim4
    @xcmskim4 3 роки тому +19

    I'm Korean American (born in the US to Korean parents) and I never knew that so many Koreans were adopted. It was not until I was in college and a "Korean" dude asked me if I was Korean. I said yes and he replied hello in Korean. It was oddly strange cause it's not common for American-born ethnic Koreans to converse in Korean.

    • @kobe51
      @kobe51 2 роки тому +5

      Just wondering why you put "korean" in quotes?

    • @Chels4hair
      @Chels4hair Місяць тому

      Really!?! because I'm from New York and the Asian kids are always speaking their language with each other in class. All Asians whether they are Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Pakistani, etc they would speak their respective language with one another and eat lunch together often. They would speak their native tongue often enough that it was noticeable; I hear in California it's the same. Where are you from in the USA?

  • @lmperfection
    @lmperfection Рік тому +2

    I’m a Korean American adoptee too. This video hits hard. Very informative too. I hope I can find my birth family and go to South Korea someday.

    • @eafanboyssuck
      @eafanboyssuck Рік тому

      Your government and former country betrayed you, so sorry for your hardships. .

  • @sugabeats
    @sugabeats 4 роки тому

    I'm a korean american adoptee. I was able to find my birth family luckily. I will be going to meet them next year in korea for the first time as well as my first time in korea. Its hard for sure to deal with this. I have all sorts of emotions and i am truly blessed my fam has been welcoming me with open arms. But it is a bit hard to navigate through this alone. I know i am not alone but i just have not found someone to connect with over this that has been through it. i identified alot with this video. the only difference is, my adopted family is not supportive of me connecting with my birth fam which makes me sad but what can you do? It is what it is. I'm an adult anyways so i have to respect their feelings on this i guess.

  • @AdopteeOutOftheFog
    @AdopteeOutOftheFog 2 місяці тому

    I was adopted, been studying adoption for a few years, a book I am reading call “AdoptionLand” from orphans to activists is a great book to hear stories of children being adopted from Korea, a lot of it is very eye opening to me, and is pretty heart breaking, been hearing how lucky I am and how I need to just be grateful, after digging just a little into how the adoption industry works, it helped me realize why I felt the way I always felt internally. Most people are not educated at all on adoption who speak to adopted children. Education on adoption is very inexpensive.

  • @therandomsound4222
    @therandomsound4222 4 роки тому +1

    korean is getting famous man you should appreciate if you know what i mean you cant continue hate it some sk adopte are happy to see that part of their culture and i know one who is a trainee in entertainment even though he is happy starting a new life is difficult

  • @RayDu
    @RayDu 4 роки тому +1

    Did anyone else have a teary moment by the end?

  • @poohbear2441
    @poohbear2441 4 роки тому

    Great Idea!

  • @bennychill7228
    @bennychill7228 2 роки тому +1

    Adopting parents are Angels on earth,let's thank them

  • @mushekfahath9245
    @mushekfahath9245 4 роки тому +2

    Heartwarming 💖

  • @brendagordon4571
    @brendagordon4571 4 роки тому

    My 2nd cousin and her husband adopted two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, brother and sister from Korea, it wasn't an easy process, but it worked out well in the end. That was 15 yrs ago, now the children are in their teens, great home environment and in private schools. The parents are black here in the U.S.

  • @bobbowie9350
    @bobbowie9350 4 роки тому

    Nice story. Happy and sad story at the same time. I feel all the adoptees are young enough to learn the language a bit, They can be semi fluent in no time