This Korean Adoptee’s Search for her Birth Parents Led to a Landmark Ruling

[@VICENews]

This 36-year-old had to sue in order to be acknowledged by her biological father in South Korea. Her lawsuit could impact thousands. WATCH NEXT: 41-year-old Adoptee Deported to South Korea After 37 Years in the U.S - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYOkeKmcmqylp8U

[@MrAwachs]

I was adopted from Korea in 1988 to a loving family. I know what it feels to be raised without the culture I was born into and rejected by that culture when I have tried to find acceptance. I know what it feels like to be forced by friends, family, classmates and co-workers to represent a culture that doesn't want me to represent them. It feels trying to glue a leaf that has fallen from a tree back onto the branch. I respect the desire to reconnect and find answers and hopefully build trust, love, respect, and forgiveness, but I've decided to plant my leaf and grow a new tree.

[@tlw987]

Like “trying to glue a leaf that has fallen from a tree back on the branch.” Wow, you’ve got a way with words.

[@richardsong6172]

You are Korean 한국분입니다♡

[@eggheadreport]

Leaves don't grow into trees. This is why it's important to understand the seed of things.

[@sophies6834]

Are you really abandonned ? a lot of children were sold , not without parents . Some were kidnaped , some were in institution but not abandonned . This IS a nowadays scandal . A lot of association are taking the voice of all countries .

[@metel999k3]

It gets me every time she calls out "mom" in Korean. Dear Kara, you moved many people in Korea. Hope you meet your mother someday.

[@lynnlane9468]

💕

[@masterk5372]

Same here

[@lalakuma9]

What's messed up with this is that the biological parents are so ashamed of having given up their children for adoption, that they commit the much more shameful act of denying their biological children any sense of acknowledgment and closure.

[@aus-li]

Korean culture is pretty harsh, but it’s the whole of Asia that has strict customs. There’s a Korean documentary called “The Drop Box” that highlights people abandoning their babies because of mental/physical defects. Don’t forget, these customs go back to many generations, that’s why socially, Asia hasn’t evolved as the West.

[@officerminiwheats]

@VoidX the lack of evolution has had many benefits. Mainly low crime and integrity of the family unit.

[@aus-li]

Dr. AteKk Low crime, yes. Family unit...not so much. In rural areas that may be true, such as in Okinawa where you have customs that prioritize the elderly. But I’m specifically talking Asian countries like Japan and Korea where the family orientation situation lacks.

[@officerminiwheats]

@VoidX compared to the west, east asia enjoys an extremely strong family unit. Just check the divorce rate

[@officerminiwheats]

@VoidX I believe what you are saying that it could be better but I think relatively these are the way it is

[@bella-yu1gs]

Its unfortunate how much shame and family honor plays a part in these types of things. The father could be under a lot of pressure from his family to not connect with her because they don't want their name associated with this. I really wish Kara the best and hope her mother will be more willing to meet with her.

[@llkkjgg9732]

That’s low key more Japanese but Koreans do still treat family names as an important thing. I think the father is just simply as bad person

[@TotalDrganMania]

@@llkkjgg9732 well, you forget that a lot of cultural practices carried over after the Japanese occupation of Korea. Theres a reason the Japanese thought fairly highly of Korea (similar cultures)

[@llkkjgg9732]

TotalDrganMania that could be very true! I just asked my mother what the Korean culture was like and she said that her family didn’t really care about the name, but even here parents were in America at a young age so it’s probably not the most accurate source

[@정민서-o6e]

@@TotalDrganMania South Korean here, can say from first and second hand experience that this is not an issue of family honour in the way you may think. In this particular case Kara's father had her from an affair with his mistress, and probably wanted to hide this from his current/legal family (quite often the case with adoptees whose parents do not want to acknowledge him/her as their child). In other cases, the parents tend to be very ashamed of themselves for having abandoned their children & their duty to protect them by putting them out for adoption; the strong Confucianist vibe in South Korea really doesn't help with this matter, and some parents end up denying such all together along with the very existence of their child. Hope this helps!

[@lekhakaananta5864]

@@정민서-o6e I think the original comment is making the mistake of stereotyping asians and their honor. This particular case can happen anywhere, in white-people land too. It's not uncommon in the west for fathers to not recognize their illegitimate children from affairs. Also it's quite likely, though we don't hear it directly in the video, that the rest of the family is also trying very hard to push Kara away because they are paranoid about her possibly laying claims to any inheritance the father might leave. Even if Kara doesn't intend to or has no legal entitlement to it, you know how people can be very paranoid about finances and would rather be "safe than sorry".

[@ajs27333]

Thank you Kara for paving the way for other Korean adoptees. There are so many of us out there struggling with the same issues and it's great to hear there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

[@demonatemu]

who tf is her biological father that he needed 2 bodyguards and that the whole family didn't want her to meet him like is this Joker

[@Cryosxify]

@Eric Pratt I'm guessing it'd be a huge scandal if he's high profile and that he had a child with another woman

[@akirebara]

I'm guessing it's a politician and him and his family are soooo up their ass in guilt and shame and they don't want to admit it because 'scandal'. In Asia in general, the rich people's family name and status are held at absolute highest importance. Family relationships and feelings don't matter much if negates family reputation to be tarnished. Your boyfriend is poor? You need to break up with him. Your grades are bad? We'll hire 10 tutors to get you to Harvard. Everything you do needs to uphold the the family's reputation. Another hypothesis is that this guy, in his younger years, raped one of their housekeepers? Then they forced her to give up Kara and banished her, possibly even kill her. Not the first time this scenario has happened.

[@jollygreen4662]

Kim from n korea

[@ms.sanchez3924]

@@akirebara there's a saying that"truth is stranger than fiction".

[@susank.4945]

@@jollygreen4662 -_- seriously? idiot...

[@sandrasupportsyou]

Dear Kara, You are a brave and bright soul. I respect so much your courage to seek your roots - your father and your mother, your heritage and relatives. It is such a challenge to do this and perhaps even more so as an adult. As an adoptee I too have a loving family that raised me but at 24 years old, it was difficult to admit even to myself that I wanted to know my roots, and needed to meet my parents. And it happened. My biological mother told me she had to drop out of university to have me, she had loved the man she was with - a fellow university student but there was such a great stigma of having a child "out of wedlock." Her family was angry with her, her boyfriend was studying in another country, so she became a nanny for a family in a big city and had her child - me - alone in a hospital. Twenty years later, sitting in hotel as a middle aged woman she told me, "They wouldn't let me touch you." She broke down and cried. It was only when we got up to say good-bye that was the first time we were able to hug each other. I was so grateful to have a chance to tell her, "I have a good life, a loving family." I bowed my head, "Thank you for having me. Thank you for your sacrifice for me." Later I did meet my father who she married later and had a son! I met him too. Wonderful. But for reasons unexplained she later pushed away saying, "Remember you searched for me, I didn't search for you. You are a stranger to me. Now I see a psychologist because you came back." That was painful. And I also understood she had pain she needed to process and accept. Me too. As the years went by, I thought she would reach out to me. Even on my 50th birthday I thought - maybe she'll call?! Time passes but wounds don't just heal; they need our love and attention. May you live your search and discovery with supple deep compassion for yourself and all your relations, with humour at the unexpected tenderness and hurt and revel in your strength to be with the difficult. Sending you a big hug and love!

[@michaelford5216]

I am 43 and was born in Korea. Adopted and brought to the USA when I was 3. This is my story too.

[@terrylee5384]

So, are you going to try that DNA website? I wonder whats the name of that website?

[@mvp340]

I was born in Mexico and adopted by U.S citizens at birth back in 1985 and back in 2012 after 27 yrs with the only family I ever had the U.S decided to deport me for illegal entry. I have no desire to find my biological parents I just want to go home.

[@aus-li]

Where in Mexico are you? And are you fighting to get back to the US?

[@garyyang3485]

No paper work done within 27 years sounds like you or your adoption parents might have messed up. In the case of people being in the US for a long time, unless you had some bad runins with the law, they won't just deport you without giving you a chance to catch-up on your paperwork.

[@mvp340]

@@aus-li I'm currently in Vallarta and have been back and forth to Torreon Coah to have my Mexican adoption made retro active and finalized but it's been 6 yrs and they just won't do it. It's a long story

[@aus-li]

@@mvp340 Damm. Well, I hope the best for you. I also know Mexico ain't that bad of a place to live, so I hope you're doing ok.

[@mvp340]

@@garyyang3485 I have two separate adoptions. The first is with the family courts in Torreon Coah MX and the second is from the Texas family courts. I was brought to the US by my adopted parents when I was 6 months old and in 2009 ICE filed removal proceedings for illegal entry. My adopted parents did a continuation of the Mexican adoption back in 2001 and was finalized in 2003. ICE and immigration law says for an adopted child to obtain u.s citizenship the adoption must be finalized before their 15th birthday and I was already 17 when the adoption was finalized in a Texas family court. I also unfortunately don't fall under the child citizenship act of 2001 because I was not yet 18 yrs old nor was my adoption finalized when the act was passed. I also have 2 adopted sisters that are on the same adoption as I am but have not been deported because they're in hiding. I myself just can't understand nor does any attorney of why the u.s decided to prosecute me for illegal entry when I did not walk into the u.s I was brought into the u.s by u.s citizens.

[@TennisGvy]

Wonder how the nephew feels. Hope he's not ostracized by his family for giving her the name of the father.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Her speech at the end in Korean was harrowing to listen to 😭 Hope she finds her birth mother.

[@JohnL-m2l]

Her father must be super rich to have 2 bodyguards. That's why her half sisters don't want her to meet him.

[@Fabzil]

Renting 2 bodyguards for the day is cheap

[@SnowTiger45]

As an adoptee who has only been given minimal information, I can totally appreciate this lady's desire to meet her birth parents. It's to fill a gap or a hole without which many of us will never feel Whole.

[@RileyBarrad]

Adopted from Korea February 25th 1998. I’ve been to Korea twice so far. First time was for a birth family search which was somewhat successful. I lost contact after going back to the states. Second time I was stationed in Korea for a year with the US Army for a year. Whole time I was stationed in Korea I was kind of still in shock being there again. Still dealing with mixed emotions.

[@iwan-wr7gn]

Hello riley, I am half korean and half Dutch. My father is also korean adoptee. I am going to korea to see where my dad came from and learn the language, is it wierd that i want to do this? some people said its wierd, because I am only half korean so I shouldnt be going to korea for that.

[@stratus10601]

Sounds like her biological family thinks she wants something more than just to meet her parents .. yikes

[@krey89]

I doubt she wants money haha

[@stratus10601]

@@krey89 right? Or any type of inheritance.. She seems like she has done well for herself! Her half sisters blocking her meeting her father gave me that feeling, I was like alright it's pretty obvious why they didnt want this to happen!

[@hstteacher]

stratus10601 I doubt she wants money - she just wants to know where/who she came from.

[@garyyang3485]

This sounds like her father is a powerful business man and her mother might be his mistress. This happens alot in Asia, the man have mistresses, the family finds out about the relationship. The baby is viewed as shame to the family and throw away because she is a risk to the inheritance of the family. (Large companies are passed down within the family instead of hiring a CEO) She has every right to know who her father is but this is just one step too far. She forced herself into his life potential ruining his current family.

[@anonymouse527]

@@garyyang3485 exactly. She was probably thrown away as a side-effect of an affair. Unwanted by everyone involved in the "making process". But if she wants to, let her try.

[@uniqueeveryone]

during this emotional and tragic story im glad youtube decides its appropriate to interrupt to try and sell me levis.

[@kelador80]

Well vice chooses when the ads play.

[@nezn8]

Lol! They probably are one of Vice’s sponsors.

[@Thomas-sr2oq]

Vice reporters need to eat, money doesn't come out of thin air

[@kcgfy81]

Freedom..... Freedom...... in Levis.

[@nicolefisher4779]

Anthony Sanchez THIS!!! people complain about EVERYTHING

[@johna8947]

Hello, thank you for this video. I'm a Korean Adoptee from the US who is going to Korea for the first time since my adoption this summer. I am grateful to Kang Mee Sook for her persistence and refusing to be rejected by her own biological father- heart-breaking as it is. But her perseverance changed South Korean laws making it easier for me - and other adoptees - to meet biological family members. So I thank you for this very much. However, at the end of your piece I was a little confused. You stated that the Personal Information Protection Act requires birth parents to disclose their information, but on the same screen you stated that adopted children do NOT have the right to their biological past. Can someone clarify?? Thank you!

[@Happiness379]

I was wondering about this, too.

[@dannnsss8034]

This opens her up to receiving inheritance upon her father's death. This was a factor as to why her half siblings wanted her out. She had "nothing" to do with their lives, and this random foreigner will be receiving some inheritance, wtf, was probably their perspective.

[@atypical_moto]

Her mom was probably the side chick so her dad forced her mom to put her up for adoption. There's no other reason to deny your child. There's nothing in it for her monetarily as it seems.

[@liszeify]

The subtitles are too small.

[@Voteblue-gq5eh]

My two nieces are Korean and adopted. They are both in their 30’s. What I was told as a kid that a unwed Korean woman who gets pregnant is shamed by her family. So they go stay at a home until the baby is born. They put the child up for adoption. After they have the child they are allowed to come back home. My sister and brother in law used their Korean names as their middle names. One is Hey Rung and the other is Un Me.

[@Brew311]

I wish her good luck in finding her biological mother.

[@anonymouse527]

Maybe her biological mother doesn't want to be found? Giving up for adoption to a far-away country without any info seems like a one-way decision.

[@rongike]

@@anonymouse527 unmarried poor korean women were often forced into it by their families 😞

[@calidreams5379]

It sounds like he did not take responsibility or acknowledge a child he had due to an affair. Even if he wanted to meet her now, the family including his children would turn on him for what they view as another betrayal to their own mother. His first betrayal was cheating on his wife. Although not logical and certainly wrong, the family will see his acceptance of her as second betrayal. This is wrong and completely illogical of course. They should acknowledge their father’s past mistakes and at least give acknowledgment of her existence as her father’s biological daughter and their half sibling. IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

[@Flower26266]

I was adopted from Inchon Korea Father Ben’s Orphanage. I found my mom, but she has 2 new kids, so she didn’t want to meet us. I still would like to find her. My mom left when I was 4 she said she would bring me new shoes after work and she never came back. My Korean dad died when I was 10 ended up in the orphanage. My Korean mom’s parents had a tofu business and I visited them every weekend from Orphanage. If anyone can help find my Korean mom I would really appreciate it. My Korean name is Park Jin Young

[@coryddp7254]

This was beautiful but it was hard to read the small fonts. I grew up in foster homes and group homes so I definitely understand the calling of wanting to know your family. I saw my grandfather when I was in my 40s and he didn't want anything to do with me. I didn't know he was alive and I just wanted to meet him. Perhaps he thought I wanted money or something but honestly it definitely wouldn't money but there is something I definitely want it and it probably was just comfort.

[@manonymous144]

Adoptees are an interesting diaspora. I was adopted fr SK in 81 at 6 months old. My White parents were culturally ignorant and arrogant. They push microaggressions like "Asians may be smart but they aren't innovative." (they have never had a single non-White friend)...My mother made me drink milk and eat whole grain wheat daily bc White dr's said it's healthy. She knew Koreans do not tolerate dairy. I now have an autoimmune condition. They never bothered to look into moving to diverse cities bc of their comfort. When I had to deal w/racism, they would say it was my fault for not being nice, etc etc. Adoptees can identify w/both cultures and neither culture, our right to choose since we didn't choose Western people and Koreans didn't choose us. Hopefully I can visit Korea soon, at least to learn more about the healthy food I need to recover.

[@aviation1337]

That was awful to hear! I pray for you and I really hope you will have a good life

[@TRVTennis]

Everyone has their cross to bear. It’s so difficult even when we find our biological parents to form a relationship. It just different cultures and different languages. I’m happy she was able to speak Korean but i feel her pain of wanting a relationship or a connection to her biological family

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

[@kmart625]

I also feel like if it’s the fathers wish to not meet her they should have to respect that. It’s not like he left on her on the street he put her up for adoption. I’d be pissed if I was the dad. He didn’t want to meet her and it’s further ruining their “relationship” that she wants.

[@seaofroses8888]

Agreed.

[@theunknownrappa]

Disagree. I think if you bring a child being into this world you have a moral responsibility to at the minimum acknowledge them if not provide for them. The father made the decision to reproduce and he shouldn't be able to just abdicate all his responsibilities just because he decided he didn't want to deal with her. If there is some extenuating circumstance in his life that forced him to give the child away for adoption then the daughter is at least owed an explanation of that.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Nope. If you give up a child, you still have a moral obligation if the child comes knocking to at least acknowledge the child's existence. If you don't want this burden, don't have a baby. Simple.

[@kmart625]

Haya Glamazon he knows she’s exist and said he didn’t want to meet her. If she didn’t want to meet her dad you wouldn’t force to meet him so why is it fine the other way around? You have absolutely zero moral obligation once you give that child up. Your moral obligations for the child are no longer your own once they legally belong to someone else! She had a good life with a good family and she will ruin the relationships she wants to have with her biological “family” by doing this and I can’t blame them.

[@kmart625]

TrixTrax when you put a child up for adoption you have zero responsibility for providing for them. Once she is legally up for adoption the responsibilities no longer rest with him!!! At that point the responsibility is on the state and then the people that adopt her. If you don’t want to put your names down on the paper when you give your child away that’s the indication for the child to know that their parents DO NOT WANT CONTACT! You have to respect that. Just like if she didn’t want to meet him and he went to court to force her to see him like that wouldn’t be acceptable either so I’m not gonna pretend it’s okay the way she’s doing it.

[@바나나-h2o5b]

카라 보스님의 아름다운 인생을 응원합니다. dear Kara i cheer for your beautiful life... i wish you well... from korea...

[@stratus10601]

More of this please

[@Sha-Ne-Ru]

I hope Kara and her half-sisters can eventually get along. it's weird to think that, if i suddenly found i had a half-sister, my first action would be to stop her from seeing her/our father??... that's too cruel. Yes, i wouldn't be gung-ho from the beginning. but i couldn't see myself making someone suffer for something they can't control and that isn't their fault.

[@ValerieBoitel]

I am adopted from korea at the age 10 in 1970s. I was not an abandoned and orphaned child. I come from child trafficking. I found the place where i suffered physical and sexual abuse.I gave the adress to the korean police. But i am realist. THE JUSTICE will never be done to this 10 year old child. The guilty can peacefully end their lives without being worried. THIS IS MY TRUE TESTIMONY like among others. I wish Good luck to the korean adoptees in their search for their family.

[@sparkygirl266]

If your biological parents don't want to meet you what's the point of meeting them? Why force him to meet her if he doesn't want to? What is she going to get out of that? What conversation or even closure are you going to get out of that if they don't want to be reunited. Sorry if it sounds harsh but I really don't understand forcing a meeting with someone who doesn't want to meet you.

[@desertfalcon2786]

Why does the father not want to meet the girl ?

[@aus-li]

Probably because it’s Korean culture? Maybe the father genuinely doesn’t care or is too ashamed to meet her.

[@unknownna6803]

The father probably has lots of money and this was an affair. It might bring lots of legal issues and problems with his current family. Divorce, separation, assets being divided etc

[@2468whodoweappreciate]

or he is embarrased because he abandoned his daughter and his daughter's mother. And also to avoid media . And also it's awkward if ur the biological parent but never raised them. Even if you meet ur biological parent, you can't be close, you can only hang out with them like acquaintances/friends or something.

[@michaelpark6417]

Idk how to feel. I feel like if the birth parents don't want to meet them they shouldn't be forced to. Who knows the history of their parents maybe its something they wish to not be reminded of. Maybe it was a fling and got someone pregnant. Maybe he cheated and got someone pregnant. I think morally he should have met her to answer some questions because he at least owes her that. But forcing him to meet her doesn't accomplish anything

[@1OutOf8Billion]

The parents chose something as superficial as how they are perceived by society for putting up their child for adoption over trying to take their child back after she’s actively trying to find them? That’s just flat-out disgusting.

[@nezn8]

Good for you, Kara! Your family members had no right blocking you. I’m glad the courts agreed with you. I also agree with the lawyer, Koreans need to face their mistakes and realize children are always going to be a blessing.

[@South_KOR]

I hope everyone will be happy.

[@heathert4882]

I was adopted at 6 months old. My parents are amazing loving people and they are my family. I would like to know my biological parents, but I am not sure if I could handle rejection like this. Knowing a family out there rejects you out of shame and hiding it only to have me tear it open would hurt them and me. I don't want to cause pain to them and I think just giving a baby up was probably the hardest painful decision my birth mom ever made. It was literally the best for me and love my family and my life. It would also hurt my real parents because its just so culturally different and they wouldn't be able not to see it as a rejection of their child who they love and gave everything to raise. I would hope that my birth parents would reach out to me, but that hasn't ever happened.

[@antoniobranch]

She needs to know her true heritage. Then walk away if she desires.

[@o.h.w.6638]

Oh good god poor woman this is heartbreaking

[@lilarodrigues2698]

The family members that blocked her and horrible. I would never do this and blocked a father or mother from meeting their children. The poor father probably wants to see her but cannot because of his family.

[@msbebelle07]

I am an adoptee to, my birth mom was born in Alsace/France, immigrated in Canada, met a Canadian man, got pregnant, gave me to adoption, I was able to trace her but she is deceased, not wet my birth father…I used Ancestry and have a link for a female cousin but no response to my messages…so yes adoption is a taboo, not just in Korea, and I to just want to know my birth family and tell that I am ok…things must change.

[@hulloktty]

The ignorance in these comments. She's doing this to find her mother. Often women were forced by douchebags like this to surrender their children. Much is coming to light about how birthmothers often did not give informed consent. This guy is a douche and hasn't earned a right to his privacy if he won't give the name of the mother.

[@mikerphone.]

Im not crying, there's smoke in my eyes. - Northern California resident

[@Guesswhokk]

Being discarded is no way to live.

[@CalebKalli]

This is so painful to watch, my mum was one of the last few children flown adopted out of Bangladesh in the 70’s right after being born after the Bengali genocide... and my grandmother never put more than her first naw , and to not know her last name and be able to connect or contact your grandmother to know if she’s ok or alive is the most painful thing ever.

[@Hathahasmeenay]

7:38 “It is time we recognized our mistakes……”, profound words, very hard to accept.

[@gc_kwhwveld]

5:57 I thought the phrase "a love that's not having to be earned" was so powerful and captured an aspect of adoptee life that I have never experienced, let alone considered before

[@protectaa]

What a great dad

[@moneywolf2344]

😂bots fck

[@darylkanofski9327]

When I watch these videos they make me sad and angy

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

[@unknownman1]

why

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

@@unknownman1 to be a known man I guess.

[@LiveALittleSoo]

I really hope you find your biological mom. Sorry that we have given you up for adoption!

[@EdugeBDroN]

Some people don't believe in destiny but I had a thought for that student who put his DNA in the database,he must have received an earful when he got home. The denial before so much evidence is very sad indeed

[@seaofroses8888]

This doesn't seem right. Her father's decision should have been respected. My biological father does not want to see me either, ive let it go.

[@hulloktty]

Men like this regularly forced mothers into surrendering children. Looks like this is what happened here. She's looking for her mother, not her father.

[@theultimateninja]

Damn, can the subtitles be any smaller and harder to read when theres white in the background.

[@dalehenry5233]

This is a sad story, sad that her biological family made it so difficult. It wasn’t her fault she was adopted. I hope she found her biological mother.

[@doucelait1]

This hurt so much seeing the pain of the adoptee. I hope she finds her biological mother. Her biological dad should be ashamed of his actions.😕

[@DJ-sn2wn]

You really need to give more context...

[@enrique88005]

I feel for her but what about the privacy of the parents.. they put her up for adoption for a reason. They shouldn't be forced to meet her unless they want to

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

but the problem is exactly that. that they made a choice to abandon her. they are her parents no matter how you twist it, and that makes them responsible for dealing with the consequences of that decision. they couldve aborted her if they didnt want her to have the ability to come back. but they chose to bring her into this world. that is not something she should have to burden herself. i understand that the parents want privacy, but this ultimately happened because of what they did, not what she did. literally all adoptees ever want when they meet their parents is acknowledgement. to find out if what theyve been told all their lives is true or not, that they were given up out of love and that their parents recognize them. she was just a child when she was given up, and had no control over the situation. the pain of bringing up the past is hard on both, but the adoptee has to suffer the extra burden of having all these holes of unknowing of something that everyone else takes for granted, the connection of dna and their origin story, how did they come to this world. its like a punishment for existing when you are not allowed to access this crucial information that everyone else was just given as a birthright. the right to privacy should not bear on what shouldve been the adoptees birthright. its just information. idk why people have this assumption that accessing info that everyone else has no matter how bad of people they are, is somehow criminal for an adoptee. its not right.

[@eviep2]

I also feel bad for the couple who adopted her and wanted her from the very beginning to now realise that it was not enough. I am not judging or criticizing her but whatever she needs out of this search, even if just closure, it seems like such a waste of precious time and energy.

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

@@eviep2 trust me, in most adoptees minds, our adoptive parents have 0 bearing in our quest to search. they are just not relevant. my "adoptive" parents aka my parents are enough in how they gave me a place to live, a family, and all the things I needed to be successful. And yet, I can acknowledge that and still need to search. To you, it may seem useless and a waste of energy. But to most adoptees, it is crucial to fill in gaps and to put a stop to the ongoing agony that haunts us everywhere we go that we will never know, that we are forced to live our lives without information that everyone else has been born with access to. It is the most harrowing thing to be wrought with a lack of basic information about who you are. Some of us do indeed give up, but that doesnt erase or negate any of the pain, and indeed makes it worse. it is more painful to never know, then to have a depressing answer.

[@ingenueblue8914]

@@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010 abortion is illegal in Korea.

[@ingenueblue8914]

I agree Enrique. You can't force people to meet you. It is ok and fair to ask for a meeting and that is all.

[@JangHeeJoon]

As an adoptee, just... Damn.

[@sgirtler9340]

I can feel her pain as well too. My biological father denied me as well too from my last phone call with him. What a shame of him

[@fjaajf]

1:51 That lawyer is doing more than her law work with that keyboard.

[@cheef825]

no need to visit the net cafe with a unit like that lmao

[@jessicamoore1314]

It is very sad, but it is obvious her parents don’t want to know her...why does she keep fighting? You cannot force them to love and recognize her.

[@NaggingTax29039]

she wanted the mother's name. most likely she a mistress and the father cheated

[@kmariekim]

Family and identity thru heritage is a complicated thing and often it’s simply for closure. Hard to imagine when you aren’t in a similar situation.

[@BoltRunner]

Same story here

[@semiprotita]

Her biological family is unbelievable. Tsk.

[@ifinallyfoundthebeef]

This is a sad pattern with some of these abandoned orphans. Usually they were sold. No one had the foresight to see that eventually they want answers .

[@Organic.Mechanic]

Some bridges are burnt for a reason. I wish her all the luck in the world but she is now in much more pain than she was not knowing the truth.

[@Smi7h1sH3r3]

OMG, how do I get on this? I was also one of those babies.......

[@shawneevee7490]

Even outside of Korea, adoptees deserve to be recognized and to have access to our original documents and even have legal record of our birth parents on our birth certificate.

[@osvaldosaez5689]

Honest question, please do not attack. Why do so many adopted people feel they must find their biological parents? IMO, dedicating so much time and energy to finding people who obviously don't want to know you is a waste of your time and, more importantly, dismissive of the people who actually made you who you are. Wouldn't it be best to spend that time with them before they're gone?

[@rjoyce268]

I feel so sorry for her😢😢😢😢😢 any updates?

[@PassportGaming]

I wouldn’t want to meet my biological parents. To me, a parent’s the person who raised you

[@asdkotable]

I think it's also more important for her as a person of colour. That nagging feeling that you're from somewhere else is harder to ignore when it stares at you in the face every time you look in the mirror.

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

honestly, if youre not adopted, you will never know the actual feeling. ever. to me, there is no use in thinking about it when it doesnt affect you personally.

[@ingenueblue8914]

@@admin7250 they should know medical history but if they don't want to meet her personally, she can't force them.

[@lynnlane9468]

How did you know you had a biological dad and so fourth it sounds like someone was trying to keep you from seeing him.I feel for her story she made me think to think about me and my story.Powerful and someone who stood her ground.She can make a difference.

[@AQuietNight]

It does seem many of these reunions do not go well. A child bursting into someone else's life is not always a welcome event.

[@nimaabachianghasemi1378]

if i die and in the afterlife they say you are going to hell or you can relive a new life in one of (s.korea - japan) im gladly chose hell . these two country are most disgusted country to having a happy . some ppl will say no its not true , my anwser to them is : if you think living like robot and doing same things 24/7 for 60 yrs of your adulthood and dieing alone is happines then you can have it for yourself . in these countries even being a singer is like torture and be a slave not a art presenter and having fun . just thank god im not born there.

[@eusebiusbob3249]

Hate me all you want but Amma say these first if your dad gave you up for adoption that in it self says a lot your real dad is the one that took care of you hope he did a great job at that

[@lifebeforedeportation]

This is so sad. I'm from Argentina and reside in the US. Deportation is a possibility and it's very intimidating since i never been there. Our title carries such a heavy stigma. For all those like me, I have created a platform for you ✌️❤️🙏

[@marizcampolet2729]

South Korea now is a rich country..Lots of babies were adopted from 1950s to 70s overseas..Hope people now realise that family is far more important than money..

[@breeyakay2537]

Why would you go to such lengths and heart break to meet someone who doesn’t want anything to do with you? How’s sad

[@aus-li]

Hey, at least she tried. Also, life is cruel, not everything goes as planned.

[@ingenueblue8914]

Yea, I find that strange.

[@kiraangela_]

Because if you could feel what it's like to know nothing of who you truly are you would understand the pain that eats away at her everyday. Longing to know what your mother looked like, does your dad have the same laugh as you? Are your siblings taller or shorter? It's hard to explain to someone but I'll tell you I wouldnt wish this pain on my worst enemy.. your lost, and just wanting to find some piece of your history...its weird but something you can only understand if you have experienced being adopted/abandoned

[@malu8710]

@Ann Tank it's something that comes with adoption. You can love your adopted family and still want to know your past. It's just natural in such a situation. If you dont remember who you truly are or where you came from, you'd definitely feel like you either need a closure or better understanding of yourself .

[@thecincinnatichick]

I don't thing she wants a relationship with her biological father, but he obviously knows who her mother is. She wants to meet with him to find out info about her mom. That's my understanding of the situation.

[@fpahsgksqjsdl]

I don't understand why these women feel the need to find and meet their biological parents who threw them away, or gave them up, even though the parents don't want to meet them. They already have adopted parents and adopted name. What are they trying to accomplish by forcing the parent, with the use of law, to meeting them? I don't understand why the Korean government has to force people to meet someone else they don't want to see. Also don't understand why Korean government decided to recognize by law parenthood, while adoptees already have adopted parents. It will be sensitive issue to the Koreans, because they will be required by law to give the adoptees a portion of their assets when the parent dies, regardless of the parent's wishes. No wonder the guy didn't want to meet her.

[@maxim3830]

You're making an uninformed assumption. Most Korean adoptees are actually doing quite well, economically. They definitely don't need money from their biological family. And I've never met one who asked for money from their biological families. Not a single one, out of hundreds. All they want is to know where they came from, why they were abandoned and be acknowledged. They want to regain the part of themselves that was lost and heal themselves.

[@fpahsgksqjsdl]

@@maxim3830 i read news articles in korea that court decided to give money to offsprings or estranged parents not named in will, because rights of offspring blah blah. not that im accusing them adoptees trying to gain financial gain. its like you have to pay tax for everything even though you dont want to. secondly, they want to heal and find root and stuff, but involving other people against their will? i disagree

[@hulloktty]

Birth mothers in Korea were regularly forced to surrender children. It was widespread fraud. So that's why she's doing it not. It's not to meet HIM (he sounds not worth it), but to meet HER.

[@hulloktty]

She doesn't want money. She wants to find her mother.

[@jimring8966]

I feel like unite states is the most humane country in the world

[@dinsel9691]

Last time I was this early.... i had morning wood!

[@jadedmalcolm2209]

😂😂😂😭😭😭😭

[@sharilsamad9727]

This is heartbreaking. Korean be kind

[@SusanDianeHowell]

So many adoptees feel that way.

[@Bigwave2003]

Not all biological parents want to be found.

[@ahnana833]

She might have won the lawsuit but what has she lost... 😢

[@drtbkgrl5285]

I can't read every vice video. I'm trying to act like I'm not watching this at my cubicle

[@davidchavez1330]

Why does she not care about her biological father but she cares about her biological mother?

[@Nina0ninakrr]

Cuz she can

[@Nina0ninakrr]

Cuz her mom is the one that gave birth to her

[@davidchavez1330]

@@Nina0ninakrr well duh but if her father didn’t want anything to do with her then why would she go through the same thing with her mother?

[@lizdestefano4905]

I was the same way! Left at the hospital surviving for my life! I know nothing except I have a brother and Im curious about my blood brother! Is my brother alive, where ad what does he look like, what dose he do for a living and ect!

[@bubblychumchums2400]

🥰Kara, I pray that your mom come forward to meet you.

[@sungkim41]

I'm not sure where to start trying to find my real parents I know I'm from Busan I think. When I asked my adoptive parents for information all they told me is the orphanage guess my age birthday and gave me a name I was a baby when they found me in the orphanage

[@Watchmaty]

Love Korea, Hope Covid let us visit this nice country again

[@_robustus_]

Might there also be fear that adopted children might seek inheritance?

[@SnowWhite-ui4lz]

Get that money baby lol XD

[@monig1440]

Or just evil and jealous. I discovered a new cousin. My uncle and his family want nothing to do with him. He went 34 yrs not knowing who his dad was and just wanted to know where he came from. My uncle’s kids threatened and harassed my cousin out of jealousy. They believe my cousin is a liar and made false accusations about his paternity. People are just assholes.

[@holocene2164]

@@monig1440 At least, he has you. All the best!

[@belleshelle]

Font is way too small if on phone.

[@sungjo3218]

한국사람으로서 부끄럽다ㅠㅠㅠ

[@maxim3830]

While everybody knows you're not to blame for this situation, it means a lot when Koreans validate our (adoptees) struggle. It simply means a lot, thank you.

[@ikeekieeki]

amazing story

[@kevinpro6483]

Gavin Mccinnis your companies founder was in the news today you might want to do a story on him.

[@jameschang2873]

Can any Korean adoptee feel and comment about this case even though it happened in Korea and not elsewhere?

[@windriver2363]

I don't understand. No one has a right to force someone else to associate with them. Yes, it's tragic, but her parents have the right to live their lives how they want.