http://www.geocities.com/kadnation/

Introduction

THE CREATION AND RISE OF KAD NATIONALISM

In my paper I will look at the creation and rise of self-identity and nation-building amongst KADs.

KAD = Korean adoptee; a person who was adopted from Korea as a child and raised in another country, often by adoptive parents of another race, ethnic background, and culture.

International adoption of (South) Korean children started after the Korean War (1950 to 1953). War orphans and mixed race Amerasian children (offspring of U.S. and other western soldiers, and Korean women) were filling up the country's orphanages. Due to Korean emphasis on 'pure' bloodlines and race, these children were shunned and often mistreated by society.

Touched by the fate of the orphans, western religious groups as well as other associations started the process of placing children in mainly white, upper or middle-class homes in the USA and Europe.

In the 1970s and 80s, war-orphans were largely replaced by children born to unwed mothers, as children born out of wedlock are stigmatized in Korea. This eventually lead to the 'industrialization' of foreign adoption of Korean children, raising the profit involved as well as reducing Korea's social welfare expenditures.

Between 150 000 and 200 000 Korean children have been raised by families residing in various countries across North-America, Western-Europe and Oceania.

The largest population of KADs is found in the US where approx. 50% ended up.

The highest per capita number of KADs live in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

The first generation of KADs have now reached adulthood. Many have returned to Korea for vacation or for longer periods of settlement.

Despite economic prosperity and modern development, Korea is still a major 'supplier' of adoptive children to Western countries.

The demand for foreign children for adoption is rising in the Western world, as fewer healthy, domestic babies are available (contraception, abortion, social welfare).

Infertile, mainly white couples, are increasingly looking abroad for adoptable babies.

More information about Korean adoption
http://www.geocities.com/sunny_jo888/kadfacts.html

Next

1