Soon-young Oh, 39, has returned to her native Korea to live, twice. Each return trip taught this transnational adoptee something new about herself. Her second time moving back to Korea was in 2016, with a husband and a three-year old child in tow. Oh compares the two experiences and on what it means to be … Continue reading Episode 25: Soon-young Oh →

For Anna Merrick Luster, keeping her Korean siblings together at all costs was a promise she kept to her biological parents before they died. But as you’ll hear, that meant enduring painful years of sexual abuse by her adoptive father and possible emotional and psychological abuse from her adoptive mother. In this podcast series, we’ve … Continue reading Episode 24: Anna Merrick Luster →

Brian Nieken, 32, has known who is biological Korean father is for half his lifetime – they first reunited in Korea when he was only 16. Nieken says the trip forever changed him and how he saw himself. But as the years went by, he realized important questions remained unanswered. He talks about that disappointment … Continue reading Episode 23: Brian Nieken →

Korean adoptee Matt Blesse, 31, is an American who moved back to Korea six years ago. A poet who now spends a great deal of time in kitchens in Seoul, the Californian chef-in-training got cerebral and talked with us about his ideas on adoptee identity and authenticity. We caught up with him on the island … Continue reading Episode 22: Matt Blesse →

Adam Kohlhaas, 30, talks about his experience living in Seoul for the past five years and of reuniting with his biological parents. For Kohlhaas, reconnecting didn’t translate to an emotional bond or match the many tearful reunion documentaries he had watched to prepare himself for this life event. Thank you for listening to ADAPTED. Originally funded by a … Continue reading Episode 21: Adam Kohlhaas →

Robert Ogburn, 57, is a Korean-American adoptee who has returned to the country he was born in — as a diplomat. Raised an only child, Ogburn’s story includes an unexpected adoption twist and insights on how Korea and its perception about adoptees has changed over the years. And like so many other adoptees, Ogburn talks … Continue reading Episode 20: Robert Ogburn →

Austin Johnson, 28, is a Korean-American adoptee and Seoul resident. He’s been living here with his wife, Janetta, for the past two years. They came to Korea together and ironically it was Janetta who has been his bridge to Korea: cooking authentic Korean food and being an anchor when life back in his native country … Continue reading Episode 19: Austin Johnson →

Not every adoption story is the same. Some adoptees struggle within their adoptive families out of neglect, lack of love or a sense of belonging. Adoptees who return to Korea to live often face other issues too: of confronting their relinquishment and feelings of loss. Korean-American adoptee Laura Wachs, 28, shares her story, and of how … Continue reading Episode 18: Laura Wachs →

Rachel Smith, 23, lives in Cheongju, Korea. She’s spending two years teaching English on the Fulbright program. Smith talks to us about growing up in Kentucky, what got her interested in coming back to Korea, searching for her Korean mother and how all of this has helped her firmly grasp who she is.

Richard Peterson, 31, reflects on moving back to Korea nearly nine years ago, armed with both advanced Korean language skills and a solid knowledge base of Korean history. But instead of looking back, Richard reflects on his opportunities in Korea today and of building a life on his terms.   Richard Peterson is at home … Continue reading Episode 16: Richard Peterson →

Julien Brulé, 31, is a Korean adoptee from France. Last year, he quit his job and his life in western France to come to Korea to meet his biological mother. Then he took the unusual step to move in with her, despite a language and cultural gulf. For more than half a year, he’s been learning more … Continue reading Episode 15: Julien Brulé →

Korean adoptee Leo Chung, 44, was raised in The Netherlands but now makes his origin country his home. Chung talks about his experience in the Dutch military and of developing an interest in Korea from an early age, especially its martial arts. That, and a reunion with his birth family at the age of 20, motivated … Continue reading Episode 14: Leo Chung →

Cara Kim Mooney, 23, is a Korean-American adoptee who grew up in upstate New York. She was adopted from Korea at the age of six months, and returned to her country of birth two years ago as an English Teaching Assistant on the Fulbright Program. Mooney wanted to come back to Korea to get in touch … Continue reading Episode 13: Cara Kim Mooney →

Julianna Gonska, 24, returned to South Korea a few months ago to take part in a Korean government scholarship program for foreign students. For Gonska, a Korean-American adoptee who hasn’t lived in Korea since she was five months old, the tuition-free program represented a great opportunity to get in touch with her Korean heritage and … Continue reading Episode 12: Julianna Gonska →

Korean-American Jonathan DeBlois, 34, opens up about his life after returning to South Korea to live for the past 12 years. Through that experience, DeBlois has gleaned a lot of insight about Korean work culture and society in general, and about his identity as an adopted Korean. Living between two worlds, DeBlois ultimately finds where he … Continue reading Episode 11: Jonathan DeBlois →

Jonathan Park Oyen, 52, is a retired U.S. Army soldier who now works for the federal government in Seoul, South Korea in a civilian position similar to the one he held while in the military. He reminisces about first returning to Korea after his adoption as a 20-year old while enlisted in the service, of … Continue reading Episode 10: Jonathan Park Oyen →

Korean adoptee activist Kim Stoker, 44, sits down to talk with us about moving back to Korea and staying for nearly two decades. She’ll also share her thoughts on identity and of how she has forged one for herself here in Korea that resists the pressure of assimilation and acknowledges the many complex experiences that … Continue reading Episode 09: Kim Stoker →

Multiracial Korean adoptee Kim Craig, 49, talks to us about her adoption experience, including being rehomed and child abuse. Despite being adopted at the age of five to the United States, she was never given citizenship. As a legal permanent resident, she was able to go about her life like most Americans, with a few exceptions. Three years … Continue reading Episode 08: Kim Craig →

Mark Wilson, 31, is a Korean-American adoptee who has lived in Korea for the past six years. Wilson grew up as a typical suburban kid but struggled with feelings of fitting in and dealing with racism on his own in his almost all white town. At college, he befriended some Korean foreign exchange students and … Continue reading Episode 07: Mark Wilson →

Six years ago, Korean adoptee Hana Crisp, 32, of Melbourne, Australia, found her birth family, including a biological half-brother Subin Kim, 29. Both agreed to be interviewed about their relationship and the reunion process over time. In separate interviews, the biological half-siblings provide a rare glimpse of what connecting and reestablishing family bonds is like after a lifetime … Continue reading Episode 06: Hana Crisp and Subin Kim →

Brian Park, 25, is a Korean-American adoptee and is gay. He’s been living in Korea since 2014 when he met his birth family. Park is used to feeling different – first growing up in remote Iowa as one of only a few Asian faces, and later as he came to terms with his sexuality in Arizona, among … Continue reading Episode 05: Brian Park →

Miranda Kerkhove, 41, is a Korean adoptee from the Netherlands. A translator by trade, Kerkhove’s interest in her ethnic roots was first sparked by language, which prompted a move back to Korea. Kerkhove talks about life back in her birth country and a feeling of duality that has emerged.

Megan Arnesen, 30, of Plymouth, Minnesota spent the summer in Daejeon, Korea on an English teaching internship. She’s a Korean-American adoptee who had already lived in Korea, the land of her birth, previously. This time, Arnesen returned as a new bride and reflected on her reunion with her birth family, being raised in a nearly … Continue reading Episode 03: Megan Arnesen →

Madeline Yochum, 25, and Andrew Blad, 28, share with us their experiences growing up in North America. On the surface, one might think they have a lot in common: both are millennial Korean adoptees living in Korea. But actually, they’ve had very different childhoods and as a couple, are learning from each other. Listen to … Continue reading Episode 02: Madeline Yochum and Andrew Blad →

Alicia Soon, 33, is a Korean-American adoptee living in Seoul, Korea. She talks to us about her childhood on a farm in rural Pennsylvania, how she struggled within her adoptive family and of ultimately liberating herself and of being back in the country of her birth. Below is a sampling of her ink drawings inspired … Continue reading Episode 01: Alicia Soon →