The President of KoRoot Reacts to Frontline Documentary

From: Pastor Kim Do-hyun 

First, as a citizen of Korea, it truly breaks my heart that our adoptees have gone through so much hardship abroad, and have endured so much pain. As a fellow citizen, I feel deeply sorry for the suffering they have experienced. But on the other hand, despite such difficult circumstances, many of them have worked incredibly hard in their lives to overcome all the challenges and trauma, and are living their lives with great strength. I have a deep respect for them for achieving this.

Furthermore, for adoptees to reveal their personal struggles, which are deeply private experiences, and share them openly to address the issues within Korean society and work toward positive changes in Korea, I want to express my sincere gratitude to those adoptees for their efforts.

In truth, Korean society has done nothing for them, and if anything, has only contributed to the hardships and trauma they faced in their lives. Yet, these adoptees are contributing to the positive transformation of Korean society, and for that, I am truly grateful.

By sharing their experiences, they have helped amend adoption laws and changed the perception of adoption itself. They have brought awareness to the issue of racism, helping Koreans to understand that it is something we must overcome. They have also spoken out against the harms caused by patriarchy and male-dominated structures in Korean society, and are working to create a society that moves beyond those issues. Moreover, they are raising awareness that Korea’s over-reliance on Western ideals and excessive admiration for developed nations has led to the establishment of these systems in Korean society. They remind us that Korean society should not depend on the West, or be swayed by Western values, but should instead focus on love and respect for human beings, so that children can grow up without being separated from their original families.

For their dedication to creating such a society, I am truly grateful to them. I would like to say, “Thank you.” Thank you.

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