MEET JEONGHYE K
Adoption details: "Eastern Social Welfare Society of the Republic of Korea & Children's Home Society of MN. I was taken to a maternity home in Gyeongju at 6 months and adopted to a small town in Minnesota at 9 months. My original name was Kee Jeong-hye, and I legally changed my name in the U.S. to contain my entire Korean name. My adoptive parents kindly kept my original first name as my middle name."
Current city: Minneapolis, MN
How has being a KAD influenced your personal and political life?:
"As a transnationally transracially adopted young person of color I initially focused on developing an understanding of my own context and responses to the adoption experience. I held favorable/unfavorable positions on the individual acts of people and organizations involved in the transnational & transracial adoption community. I grew through conversations with fellow adoptees and allies, the generosity of mentors, and by exposure to the groundbreaking work of early scholar-activists. Gradually I moved toward seeing larger social and economic systems at play, and am currently developing an understanding of the ongoing role of militarism and U.S. foreign policy goals in the Korean adoption phenomenon. I'm interested in both the experiences and rights of Korean adoptee immigrants in the U.S. and the experiences and rights of Korean adoptees in Korea. My interests in race, gender, peace, adoption, and law all coincide in my identity and I think my position as a stakeholder on these issues drives my focus on specific advocacy work. Currently I'm preparing to travel to North Korea as part of a peace delegation with Korean-American organization Nodutdol of New York.
I identify as a member of the Korean peninsular diaspora, as a Korean American, and as a transracially transnationally adopted woman of color. I feel most comfortable in communities on the margins. I deeply appreciate the support my adoptive family gives my work and interests and would like to think that they see my efforts as good use of the foundation they provided.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the local and global Korean adoption community evolve, support its members, strengthen its political perspective and voice, form coalitions with other groups, and effect change in multiple arenas."
Favorite K-Dramas: "You're Beautiful, Boys Over Flowers, and Coffee Prince."
Favorite Korean food: "Anything that's made in the company of friends."
Blog? "I participate at Network of Politicized Adoptees - http://npadoptees.blogspot.com"
Current city: Minneapolis, MN
How has being a KAD influenced your personal and political life?:
"As a transnationally transracially adopted young person of color I initially focused on developing an understanding of my own context and responses to the adoption experience. I held favorable/unfavorable positions on the individual acts of people and organizations involved in the transnational & transracial adoption community. I grew through conversations with fellow adoptees and allies, the generosity of mentors, and by exposure to the groundbreaking work of early scholar-activists. Gradually I moved toward seeing larger social and economic systems at play, and am currently developing an understanding of the ongoing role of militarism and U.S. foreign policy goals in the Korean adoption phenomenon. I'm interested in both the experiences and rights of Korean adoptee immigrants in the U.S. and the experiences and rights of Korean adoptees in Korea. My interests in race, gender, peace, adoption, and law all coincide in my identity and I think my position as a stakeholder on these issues drives my focus on specific advocacy work. Currently I'm preparing to travel to North Korea as part of a peace delegation with Korean-American organization Nodutdol of New York.
I identify as a member of the Korean peninsular diaspora, as a Korean American, and as a transracially transnationally adopted woman of color. I feel most comfortable in communities on the margins. I deeply appreciate the support my adoptive family gives my work and interests and would like to think that they see my efforts as good use of the foundation they provided.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the local and global Korean adoption community evolve, support its members, strengthen its political perspective and voice, form coalitions with other groups, and effect change in multiple arenas."
Favorite K-Dramas: "You're Beautiful, Boys Over Flowers, and Coffee Prince."
Favorite Korean food: "Anything that's made in the company of friends."
Blog? "I participate at Network of Politicized Adoptees - http://npadoptees.blogspot.com"
