Half Korean War orphan here. I was adopted by a lovely family at age 6. I grew up in Los Angeles. I had a wonderful childhood and assumed all Adopted war orphans did. I was so wrong. I returned to Korea to attend Korean Adoptee convention and heard many disturbing adoption stories as well as how badly half Koreans were treated after the war. I’m truly blessed to have escaped this. I appreciate experiences shared by other half Koreans. Thank you for enlightening us.
@@TheHalfieProject I literally just found out that my biological mother is Korean and Afghan and based on my appearance u wouldn't even guess that I was Korean but I am trying to be taken care of I had a hard life as a result of her giving me away to people in the South who didn't like me. It's bad when u don't know who your birth family is
@@TheHalfieProject I really need help I'm mixed race I go through discrimination all the time I want to move to Hawaii. I feel very part of the Hapa community and I grew up thinking I was a black American with some white ancestry. I did find out as a teenager that I was mixed with Indian which through me off completely. My adopted family doesn't like foreign people or people who love their culture which sucks cause they have controlled my life with their friends. It's a very depressing situation
While I am in no similar situation growing up, there are still many validating and similar experiences growing up in the States as an American-born Chinese. Can’t wait to hear more stories like these being shared! Thank you so much for this.
Thanks for making me cry on a Sunday morning brunch. A lot to process here. Thanks for creating the space to share these stories and help people like us feel seen.
I heard of another American soldier married to a Korean woman do this in the middle of the night. 1:45 He took their kids while the wife was away on a work trip a few hours away from home. What a traumatic event for everyone involved.😢 P.S. I saw firsthand the stigma against Korean women who married American soldiers and foreigners before 1970s-1980s becuse relationships between American men and Korean women were forbidden. Their children were also stigmatized because they should not have been born. There was an extreme hate and fear of foreigners because foreigners were always attacking Korea, as was the perception by Koreans.
It's not false perception. Foreigners were always attacking Korea including Americans. You act like Americans did anything good. America supported dictator in South Korea. It was Korean people who rose up and topple dictatorship in Korea. It was s bloody student revolt. Americans wanted Korea to be like that of South American countries, a corrupt leadership where they can controll. Not to mention the brothel chain set up Americans GI in Korea, Japan and Vietnam during their occupation is proof enough
@@monarchist1838 how does that change any fact that Americans weren't any different from Soviet Russia?? We all know that Stalin was bad but people (especially in the west) have some kind of false perception that Americans are Hero who saved Korea. Americans are no different from USSR or China, it may have different political system but it's an imperalist country. I was just stating the fact that Koreans being anti h@lf br##d didn't come from racism but rather defence mechanism from being attacked from all sides by foreigners including Americans. America has only one agenda when they station there troops in South Korea. It was to establish as a satellite to stop communists expansion and surround China, America set up brutal dictator in Korea, but luckily though a dictator he was an efficient patriotic dictator who loves to rule with iron fist but wanted to industrialized South Korea. He was an elite dictator, Korea was never meant to be a democracy Americans were more then willing to keep supporting Korean dictator but people wanted freedom thus topple the govt. The revolution was strictly censored, no western media cover it during the time. Therefore we should give the credit of bringing democracy in Korea to Korean people alone
Wow such an interesting and incredible story. I like to see these tough times and challenges in life as blessings in disguise. Thanks for sharing this!
I feel relieved that new video showed up in this channel. Nowadays we have more Koreans from bi-racial or multicultural background, yet they often find their identity not embraced in the country where they were born and raised. We should tackle on this issue for the future generation..
Some questions we will be talking about in the next videos: “What were the camptowns?”“Did mixed Korean kids actually have to leave Korea after the war?” “Who were the first Korean adoptees and why did they go to the US? Have you ever met a historian who's focus is mixed Koreans, camptowns or Korean adoptees?
My Korean professor touched on it, Michael Robinson of Indiana University. He was more focused on what was going on politically but I'm pretty sure we were given some books from mixed Koreans that lived in that time. I can't remember any titles since it was almost 20 years ago now. Suzanne Han Crowder was the staff member at Yonsei University for my exchange program. She might have some connections since she's lived in Korea since the 70s
Yes. Mixed Koreans had to leave. Korean president declared we were not citizens and frankly, America didn’t either. Thank God for Harry and Bertha Holt who created the Holt adoption foundation. Which is still in existence. They saved us. And thank goodness for Paster Lee.
Has anyone done research on the time period from the end of the Korean war to the 1980's with a focus on the children who were NOT adopted, but left in orphanages?? It was a time of economic hardship, social stigma for children born to unmarried moms and also not put on the father's family register. Too many adoptees carry resentment but have no understanding of Korean culture, particularly during those years, and what would have been life for them if they remained there. If anyone knows of any written research on this topic, I would appreciate that information.
This was a touching story. It must have been tough growing up half Korean with a single mother. Out of all the Asians, Koreans are known for being passionate, speaking their minds, and having a fierce temper. Would y'all explain why this is? I am also half Asian and half White and this has been my observation in my discussions with other Asians.
I read a paper on korean prostitution and a lot of the low rank soldiers did marry a prostitute. It was also segregated due to race and almost all marriages between black soldiers and south koreans were prostitutes as only a small number would service black GI's and local korean women wouldn't mix with them at all.
As a Korean man married to an American white lady who are planning to have a baby soon, this video brings up alot of contemplation about what my child will have to go through.
that's good, as a mixed person you're on the first step. buuuut....you're a 'little' behind, so start doing research. that's the key thing. from here on until forever, you are locked into leading, studying, as guiding your child or children into biracial success. you have amplitudes more or work to do than with single race children. start now and catch up, and then you can be neck and neck with your children as they grow, instead of behind. the world is already ready to tell them who they are and harass them. you have to move to the top and preclude this. nip it in the Budd. open the path. as opposed to waiting for something bad or for them to be confused. it's a mountain of work. we hope you're ready for us 😉 😁
so basically you, and not your child, ought to lead and do the work of explaining who biracial people are, since you created them. that work is your responsibility, not ours, and it takes a lot, more than most single race people can do since it's difficult to understand, especially since your brain is built on only one race, but with ample work, you may be able to 😉 ☺
I'm half korean half white... my father is korean. I would strongly caution you in having a child. I dont care about your feelings, I care about the child because I understand their reality more than you ever will. I also see what's going on in America. The tribalism. People are running to their tribal lands and communities and closing the door. I dont have a tribe. I dont have a mother or father who understands me. I don't talk to either. The only one I have is God. I'm grateful for every bite of food I eat at this point in my life. YOU are the man. YOU must be aware of what you're doing and what you're creating. If you don't know what you're doing don't do it.
I feel like European/American and Asian pairings always start off as an unhealthy pairing. The Asian one gets with the white person because they want to badly to be accepted by white society; and the white person especially in the US takes an interest in the Asian person because so often times in the US, the white person is 2 or 3 generations removed from having a culture of their own. So they take interest in a person from a different culture because they don't have a culture of their own. Personally, I think it is a very unhealthy dynamic to start a relationship with. I would know...I am half Asian half white and have always felt like a stateless person without a country. Not a good feeling. Very traumatizing. You want that for your kid??
What your child goes through entirely depends on how your child will look. It’s random. The problem with mixing is that there’s not a guarantee your kid will look Korea or white or both
Half Korean War orphan here. I was adopted by a lovely family at age 6. I grew up in Los Angeles. I had a wonderful childhood and assumed all Adopted war orphans did. I was so wrong. I returned to Korea to attend Korean Adoptee convention and heard many disturbing adoption stories as well as how badly half Koreans were treated after the war. I’m truly blessed to have escaped this. I appreciate experiences shared by other half Koreans. Thank you for enlightening us.
being half and hearing this story was extremely validating thank you for this.
Thank you for watching!
@@TheHalfieProject I literally just found out that my biological mother is Korean and Afghan and based on my appearance u wouldn't even guess that I was Korean but I am trying to be taken care of I had a hard life as a result of her giving me away to people in the South who didn't like me. It's bad when u don't know who your birth family is
@@TheHalfieProject I really need help I'm mixed race I go through discrimination all the time I want to move to Hawaii. I feel very part of the Hapa community and I grew up thinking I was a black American with some white ancestry. I did find out as a teenager that I was mixed with Indian which through me off completely. My adopted family doesn't like foreign people or people who love their culture which sucks cause they have controlled my life with their friends. It's a very depressing situation
@@TheHalfieProject great video I'm a mixed Korean Adoptee born in Chicago
While I am in no similar situation growing up, there are still many validating and similar experiences growing up in the States as an American-born Chinese. Can’t wait to hear more stories like these being shared! Thank you so much for this.
So many criss-crossing experiences. Thanks for sharing your comment!
Thanks for making me cry on a Sunday morning brunch. A lot to process here. Thanks for creating the space to share these stories and help people like us feel seen.
It's good to see you back Becky!
It's good to be here :))
I heard of another American soldier married to a Korean woman do this in the middle of the night. 1:45 He took their kids while the wife was away on a work trip a few hours away from home. What a traumatic event for everyone involved.😢 P.S. I saw firsthand the stigma against Korean women who married American soldiers and foreigners before 1970s-1980s becuse relationships between American men and Korean women were forbidden. Their children were also stigmatized because they should not have been born. There was an extreme hate and fear of foreigners because foreigners were always attacking Korea, as was the perception by Koreans.
But it's true though. America divided Korea into two countries
@@elangbam3115 russia,china..
they re devil
It's not false perception. Foreigners were always attacking Korea including Americans. You act like Americans did anything good. America supported dictator in South Korea. It was Korean people who rose up and topple dictatorship in Korea. It was s bloody student revolt. Americans wanted Korea to be like that of South American countries, a corrupt leadership where they can controll. Not to mention the brothel chain set up Americans GI in Korea, Japan and Vietnam during their occupation is proof enough
@@elangbam3115 Stalin installing a brutal communist dynasty in the north didn't help either.
@@monarchist1838 how does that change any fact that Americans weren't any different from Soviet Russia?? We all know that Stalin was bad but people (especially in the west) have some kind of false perception that Americans are Hero who saved Korea. Americans are no different from USSR or China, it may have different political system but it's an imperalist country. I was just stating the fact that Koreans being anti h@lf br##d didn't come from racism but rather defence mechanism from being attacked from all sides by foreigners including Americans. America has only one agenda when they station there troops in South Korea. It was to establish as a satellite to stop communists expansion and surround China, America set up brutal dictator in Korea, but luckily though a dictator he was an efficient patriotic dictator who loves to rule with iron fist but wanted to industrialized South Korea. He was an elite dictator, Korea was never meant to be a democracy Americans were more then willing to keep supporting Korean dictator but people wanted freedom thus topple the govt. The revolution was strictly censored, no western media cover it during the time. Therefore we should give the credit of bringing democracy in Korea to Korean people alone
Wow such an interesting and incredible story. I like to see these tough times and challenges in life as blessings in disguise. Thanks for sharing this!
You're absolutely right. He will share more of his story in the next interview!
I feel relieved that new video showed up in this channel. Nowadays we have more Koreans from bi-racial or multicultural background, yet they often find their identity not embraced in the country where they were born and raised.
We should tackle on this issue for the future generation..
Some questions we will be talking about in the next videos: “What were the camptowns?”“Did mixed Korean kids actually have to leave Korea after the war?” “Who were the first Korean adoptees and why did they go to the US?
Have you ever met a historian who's focus is mixed Koreans, camptowns or Korean adoptees?
My Korean professor touched on it, Michael Robinson of Indiana University. He was more focused on what was going on politically but I'm pretty sure we were given some books from mixed Koreans that lived in that time. I can't remember any titles since it was almost 20 years ago now.
Suzanne Han Crowder was the staff member at Yonsei University for my exchange program. She might have some connections since she's lived in Korea since the 70s
Yes. Mixed Koreans had to leave. Korean president declared we were not citizens and frankly, America didn’t either. Thank God for Harry and Bertha Holt who created the Holt adoption foundation. Which is still in existence. They saved us. And thank goodness for Paster Lee.
I truly appreciate this. ❤
I'm glad about this thanks.
great vid.
Has anyone done research on the time period from the end of the Korean war to the 1980's with a focus on the children who were NOT adopted, but left in orphanages?? It was a time of economic hardship, social stigma for children born to unmarried moms and also not put on the father's family register. Too many adoptees carry resentment but have no understanding of Korean culture, particularly during those years, and what would have been life for them if they remained there. If anyone knows of any written research on this topic, I would appreciate that information.
This was a touching story. It must have been tough growing up half Korean with a single mother.
Out of all the Asians, Koreans are known for being passionate, speaking their minds, and having a fierce temper. Would y'all explain why this is?
I am also half Asian and half White and this has been my observation in my discussions with other Asians.
Great story!
I read a paper on korean prostitution and a lot of the low rank soldiers did marry a prostitute. It was also segregated due to race and almost all marriages between black soldiers and south koreans were prostitutes as only a small number would service black GI's and local korean women wouldn't mix with them at all.
He’s hot omg
As a Korean man married to an American white lady who are planning to have a baby soon, this video brings up alot of contemplation about what my child will have to go through.
that's good, as a mixed person you're on the first step. buuuut....you're a 'little' behind, so start doing research. that's the key thing. from here on until forever, you are locked into leading, studying, as guiding your child or children into biracial success. you have amplitudes more or work to do than with single race children. start now and catch up, and then you can be neck and neck with your children as they grow, instead of behind. the world is already ready to tell them who they are and harass them. you have to move to the top and preclude this. nip it in the Budd. open the path. as opposed to waiting for something bad or for them to be confused. it's a mountain of work. we hope you're ready for us 😉 😁
so basically you, and not your child, ought to lead and do the work of explaining who biracial people are, since you created them. that work is your responsibility, not ours, and it takes a lot, more than most single race people can do since it's difficult to understand, especially since your brain is built on only one race, but with ample work, you may be able to 😉 ☺
I'm half korean half white... my father is korean. I would strongly caution you in having a child. I dont care about your feelings, I care about the child because I understand their reality more than you ever will. I also see what's going on in America. The tribalism. People are running to their tribal lands and communities and closing the door. I dont have a tribe. I dont have a mother or father who understands me. I don't talk to either. The only one I have is God. I'm grateful for every bite of food I eat at this point in my life. YOU are the man. YOU must be aware of what you're doing and what you're creating. If you don't know what you're doing don't do it.
I feel like European/American and Asian pairings always start off as an unhealthy pairing. The Asian one gets with the white person because they want to badly to be accepted by white society; and the white person especially in the US takes an interest in the Asian person because so often times in the US, the white person is 2 or 3 generations removed from having a culture of their own. So they take interest in a person from a different culture because they don't have a culture of their own.
Personally, I think it is a very unhealthy dynamic to start a relationship with. I would know...I am half Asian half white and have always felt like a stateless person without a country. Not a good feeling. Very traumatizing. You want that for your kid??
What your child goes through entirely depends on how your child will look. It’s random. The problem with mixing is that there’s not a guarantee your kid will look Korea or white or both