I sit down again and talk to Peter Møller, one of the co-founders of Danish Korean Rights Group, which has succeeded in convincing a truth commission in Korea to open an investigation into Korean adoption. The group has submitted more than 300 cases representing adopted Koreans in a number of countries, alleging false paperwork and switched identities among other human rights violations. 

Part 1 of 2.

“Running” by Jae Jin.

“Manny In Sound,” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Zhen E Rammelsberg, 50, was adopted by a white couple in Iowa in the early 1970s. She remembers being the only person of color in her small town of 700 people. Growing up in racial isolation led Rammelsberg to distance herself from her Korean heritage or from cultivating a positive racial identity of being Korean. But through a series of events, including the birth of her son, she began to discover a missing part of herself.

“Running” by Jae Jin.

“Our Ears, Deceivers,” “The Gran Dias,” “Spindash” and “Leptias” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Allen Majors, 63, is a Korean-American adoptee who has decided to retire in Korea — more than 60 years after being sent away for adoption to the US. 

One could think of it as a kind of reclamation of identity but Majors chooses to not place too much emphasis and burdens on the past. Instead, he looks for ‘spontaneous delightful moments’ in the everyday as he looks forward to embarking on the second half of his life where it all started. 

“Running” by Jaejin.

“Spindash,” “Keeping up,” “Homin”, “Champman” and “Don Germaine” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Christy Zaragoza, 30, regularly spreads joy in the adoptee community as a board member of the Association of Korean Adoptees in San Francisco. She reveals that the reason she is so interested in making others happy around her comes from a dark place. This is the first time Christy has shared her story publicly like this. 

“Running” by JaeJin Music.

“Upholding,” “Pop Vibrations,” “Element Airborne,” Element Asteroid,” and “Element Walnut” by Blue Dot Sessions.

“Honesty” by Beyonce appears courtesy Columbia Records and songwriter Billy Joel, under fair use.

Danish attorney and Korean adoptee Peter Møller is the next guest in the podcast. He and his group, Danish Korean Rights Group, are submitting cases to Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The aim is to encourage them to investigate Korean intercountry adoption practices during the authoritarian regime for alleged illegality and criminality on the part of adoption agencies and government agents, as well as for violations of international human rights. We spoke to him on Oct 15, 2022 during his month-long work in Korea, ahead of an important appearance before the National Assembly on Friday, Oct. 21 (KST). 

“Fantastic Chances” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Theme music by: Jae Jin.

Last month, Adapted Podcast teamed up with the Association of Korean Adoptees to organize a Share Your Story Booth. It was open during AKASF’s annual “Bay to LA” event in Koreatown, Los Angeles. We had never offered this kind of confessional diary-type opportunity before and weren’t sure if anyone would be interested in self-documenting a message, a reflection or part of their personal journey. And behold — some adoptees stepped forward. This episode is a compilation of their entries, uncut.

Season 6 kicks off with a live audience interview with Nick Greene of Association of Korean Adoptees- San Francisco. The Bay-area Korean adoptee group held its annual “Bay To LA” event September 16-17, 2022. More than 70 adoptees from CA, OR, TX, AZ, MN, IL, WA and MI attended. Greene, 40, is relative new to adoptee community spaces and he talks about his role as a leader for one group and what motivates him to get involved.

American writer, poet and educator Sun Yung Shin, 48, of Minneapolis, MN closes out the season. Author of a new book of poetry called “The Wet Hex,” Shin reads excerpts from book and talks about how adoption, race, evolution and the pandemic  informs their writing. 

Jenny Town, 46, is a Korean adoptee who was one of the first waves to go back to Korea after their adoptions. Now, a foreign policy expert specializing in North Korea, Town recalls her time in Korea as a university student, dating, and what lessons she learned about herself while she was there. 

Korean adoptees Kim Stoker and kim thompson left Korea five years ago after many, many years living there as artists, activists, writers and educators. But when it was time to leave, it was time. They sit down with podcast host, Kaomi Lee, who also moved back to the States from Korea during that same time frame. They talk about life back in the US, the adjustments and tradeoffs, how to not confuse memories with romanticism, and why the door back to Korea is never closed. This episode excerpts from a podcast, “We Have White Names.”