Origins of this research

I was adopted from South Korea to Australia when I was 4 months old.

For the first half of my life, I had no interest unpacking what my adoption meant to me or anything about my origins. Adoption was my origin as far as I was concerned and all my focus was trying to as "Aussie" as possible, and to blend in with white society.

During my twenties a natural curiosity about my origins began growing, as part of existential explorations of whether I was Australian, Korean or something in between. I started wondering if there was family out there who I looked like (everyone in my adoptive family was born in a different country) and wondering what reuniting might feel like. Through this exploration I learnt there were organisations and communities of adoptees who were also working their way working similar issues and challenges related to identity and belongingness. I spent a good chunk of my life feeling like I was the only one going through this however after attending a large-scale conference for adoptees, the 2019 IKAA Gathering in Seoul, I realised my experiences were almost... typical?

From that point the adoptee community has become an important part of my life, initially just for myself but quickly expanded in support of others.

I have been in the role of President for the Korean Adoptees in Australia Network Inc since 2023. Our volunteer-run group was established in 2014 and while I'm proud of what we've been able to achieve so far, there are other adoptee community organisations across America and Europe who have existed decades longer than ours, who we could learn a lot from. As part of my Churchill Fellowship I will be exploring some of the oldest and/or most mature adoptee organisations to inspire what else is possible for KAIAN (and how) and other intercountry adoptee groups in Australia.

My first stop will be New York City to attend Also-Known-As's 30th anniversary conference. The way they operate and support community might be considered global best practice, not only running the highest frequency initiatives of any volunteer-run organisation I'm aware of but supported by mature governance, process and planning models.

I'll be travelling to at least 5 other cities across America and Europe to meet with other large adoptee communities and organisations from April to June.

An additional focus of my research will also explore support services that are providing the highest impacts (as defined by adoptees themselves) to adoptee communities. The timing of this is critically important following Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) determining systemic issues with the international adoption program last year, and the Australian government imminently announcing their own investigation into the Korea-Australia adoption program. Korea is just one example of systemic issues spanning from intercountry adoption. I am part of a group the government is consulting with, as part of investigation design (and hopefully the eventual recommendations).

This moment in time presents a rare opportunity that has the government's attention and the media's interest. Before all the investigation-related matters there was already a strong case for why adoptees need specific support, which is why the Australian government funds the Intercountry Adoptee and Family and Support Service, however in light of recent news I believe many adoptees need a community and strengthened support services more than ever.

So, to summarise:

1. I am exploring how some of the most mature adoptee community organisations do what they do, consistently.

2. As part of the broader ecosystem, what support services (government-funded or otherwise) are providing the biggest impacts to adoptees in their regions.

   • I'd love to hear from adoptees anywhere in world about what you've experienced or accessed that has made the biggest difference to your adoption journey. Or maybe it's something you think you need which isn't easily accessible or cost-prohibitive? Is there something you ideally want more of? What resources aren't solving key needs?

I'd welcome an email at beyondoriginsco@gmail.com if you have any feedback you'd like to share.

I'm aiming to post my research insights in this section of the website and will more frequently be posting Blog updates as I work my way around the world. You're welcome to sign up for updates at the bottom of the page!