[YTN 특집] DNA, 그리고 기다림 / YTN

Last summer, An adoptee made large headlines in South Korea. Her name is Kara Boss. Despite finding her biological father through DNA testing, he refused to acknowledge it. She filed a lawsuit against her father. Based on DNA evidence, Kara Boss, won the lawsuit. ‘Miracle’ Finding biological family is called a “miracle” amongst adoptees. Kara Boss did not initially imagine a lawsuit in search of her family. She was simply curious about her father's face and wanted to find the mother who gave birth to her. To find the answer to this life-long puzzle… Finally she met her father… As she couldn’t see her father’s face properly, The ‘reunion’ ended in vain. After five months, the November of that year, Kara Boss was legally on the Family Registry as her biological father’s daughter. However, her long search to find her mother, would have to start all over again. Kara Boss asks When will this wait finally end? At this rate, must I bury everything and live on? The fog settles in Minnesota, USA. An adoptee who is searching for her biological parents is here as well. Kaomi Goetz is a Minnesota-branch PBS veteran reporter. Her first experience in broadcast was as a reporter at a radio station. She loved to hear other people’s stories, and found it worthwhile to find undiscovered ones. Out of half a day’s struggle of filming, a video is created in the PBS broadcast station. Despite less people working due to COVID-19, Kaomi is someone important who cannot be replaced. Her experience as an adoptee has become her strength in this field. After work, John, another Korean adoptee, arrives at Kaomi’s home to be a guest on her podcast. This podcast features stories of many Korean adoptees, and has over 80,000 cumulative downloads. There are quite a lot of listeners. A lost voice For a long time, she did not want to look back on the past. It was an overwhelming time, but she only looked forward. She finally decided to face the past again when meeting other adoptee friends for the first time. Clearing the fog When adoptees start their journey of finding their roots, It is expressed as ‘coming out of the fog.’ Adoptees face an identity crises due to their appearance But when they find their Korean roots, they feel a fog has been lifted from their eyes. Adoptees believe finding their family will make the world clearer. Kaomi had visited South Korea in search of her family. Searching in Pyeongtaek, she attached flyers and also asked press for their help. But her adoption papers lacked sufficient information. And so there was no outcome. Kaomi puts her last hope on DNA testing. She found her third cousin through a DNA test Like standing in front of a wall That only grows taller day by day She came out of the fog with great difficultly, But the world she faced was still blurry. Hidden beneath the miracle of Han River are children of poor families and single mothers During Korea’s economic growth in the 1970s and 80s Overseas adoption reached its peak After the Korean War, until now Over 200,000 adopted children have been sent abroad Korea gained a label 'No. 1 exporter of children' If you say you’re adopted into the United States, people tell you its better than having lived poorly in Korea They say you had a better chance at life. In the 1970s, economic growth was important to Korea So they considered poverty to be shameful. France, the country with the most adopted children after the US. Montpellier, one of representative cities of southern France is decorated with Korean traditional lanterns. Last year was the first year in Montpellier to commemorate Hangul Day. "It's really pretty. It stands out and attracts people's attention. When people ask me what this is, I explain it to them and we convey our love of Korea to the French." Although most events were canceled due to COVID-19, Montpellier’s City Office of Education still announced Hangul Day this year. Korea’s presence in the city clearly continues to grow. At the heart of love for Korea in this city is an adoptee, Sophie Miae. "Because there are many Korean students in Montpellier, I am preparing this event to introduce Korean language and Korean culture." Miae’s main job is a Korean school teacher. Her classes are very popular for Korean adoptees and their families. Her husband and son are also attending the class. Thanks to Miae’s classes, adoptees' participation in Montpellier Korean school is high. "It motivates me to see a teacher who speaks Korean well as an adoptee. It is difficult because I am old, but I think I will be able to do well someday.” Adoptees who left Korea as a child ...... #adoptee #DNA #miracles