A recent article in the New York Times (Why a Generation of Adoptees Is Returning to South Korea, Jan. 14) brought to light an interesting topic. Apparently, many South Korean adoptees are returning to their homeland. There is a heavy number of adoptees returning to their native land to find their birth parents and also to experience their home country.
Notes we garnered from the article:
–There was an increasing number of adoptions out of South Korea in the 1980s. The escalation in the number of adoptions was staggering.
–Many of those adopted were adopted by families in the United States.
–There is now a big increase in the number of adoptees returning to their homeland.
–A lot of the adoptions were apparently because many single mothers were ashamed, and in result, gave up their children for adoption.
Some of the adoptees state that they emigrate back to their home country to get a better understanding of their background, their culture, and perhaps, knowledge about their parents.
Some might be able to actually discover their roots, find their parents. Some may not.
There is always the fear of rejection; perhaps you discover family, but perhaps you won’t be received. But there is no shame in that.
One of our staff members, with adopted children expressed how they had no interest in contact with their birth mother. Not all adoptees have the need to explore their roots.
Why this huge trend in the adoptees to return to South Korea? A part of the experience is not necessarily finding a conclusive answer, but possibly the discoveries during the journey.
Cliché perhaps, but knowledge is power. And another cliché: The truth will set you free. (end)