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Given Away: Korean Adoptees Share Their Stories Given Away: Korean Adoptees Share Their Stories
(about 2 hours later)
Op-DocsOp-Docs
“One of the last things that my grandmother said was, ‘When you grow up, come visit me.’”“One of the last things that my grandmother said was, ‘When you grow up, come visit me.’”
By Glenn Morey and Julie MoreyBy Glenn Morey and Julie Morey
Mr. and Ms. Morey are filmmakers.Mr. and Ms. Morey are filmmakers.
한국어로 읽기 (Read in Korean.)
Fifty-nine years ago, Glenn was an orphan in Seoul, South Korea, abandoned as a newborn. He doesn’t know by whom, where or why. But he wound up one baby, out of roughly two million infants and children who were orphaned or somehow separated from their families of origin in the aftermath of the Korean War. This stream of homeless Korean children continued over the next 60-plus years, the consequences of hunger and poverty, social stigma and racial bigotry, broken marriages and untimely death.Fifty-nine years ago, Glenn was an orphan in Seoul, South Korea, abandoned as a newborn. He doesn’t know by whom, where or why. But he wound up one baby, out of roughly two million infants and children who were orphaned or somehow separated from their families of origin in the aftermath of the Korean War. This stream of homeless Korean children continued over the next 60-plus years, the consequences of hunger and poverty, social stigma and racial bigotry, broken marriages and untimely death.
Some, like Glenn, were plucked out of the orphanages and adopted by families around the world — more than 180,000 infants and children who were placed in new homes. Those adoptions, in turn, became a model for nearly a million more intercountry adoptions out of Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Some, like Glenn, were plucked out of the orphanages and adopted by families around the world — more than 180,000 infants and children who were placed in new homes. Those adoptions, in turn, became a model for nearly a million more intercountry adoptions out of Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
To date, only limited efforts have been made to follow up on their lives in adoptive families. What happened to these children? Are they doing O.K. now? What happens when families in wealthy Western countries adopt the infants and children of countries in crisis? What happens in the course of transcultural and, often, transracial adoption? Given that intercountry adoption has now been widely embraced, we think these are important questions, even if they are often overlooked.To date, only limited efforts have been made to follow up on their lives in adoptive families. What happened to these children? Are they doing O.K. now? What happens when families in wealthy Western countries adopt the infants and children of countries in crisis? What happens in the course of transcultural and, often, transracial adoption? Given that intercountry adoption has now been widely embraced, we think these are important questions, even if they are often overlooked.
Six years ago, we started filming interviews with former orphans —100 interviews filmed in New York City, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Australia, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Ore., and across South Korea. Together, these stories comprise Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World, from which this short film was adapted. We understand that no single story can portray the history and nature of intercountry adoption; we need a chorus of stories and outcomes.Six years ago, we started filming interviews with former orphans —100 interviews filmed in New York City, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Australia, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Ore., and across South Korea. Together, these stories comprise Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World, from which this short film was adapted. We understand that no single story can portray the history and nature of intercountry adoption; we need a chorus of stories and outcomes.
Glenn understands this well. His own origin story is shrouded by an empty family registry. He doesn’t know if his biological parents are alive or dead. He doesn’t know their names, and he’ll never meet them. He has needed others like him, like those in this project, to help him make sense of his life. They have also helped him make peace with the universe.Glenn understands this well. His own origin story is shrouded by an empty family registry. He doesn’t know if his biological parents are alive or dead. He doesn’t know their names, and he’ll never meet them. He has needed others like him, like those in this project, to help him make sense of his life. They have also helped him make peace with the universe.
Glenn and Julie Morey are a married filmmaking team based in Denver. This film is adapted from their project Side by Side, which premieres as a 12-channel video art installation in Seoul and New York City later this summer.Glenn and Julie Morey are a married filmmaking team based in Denver. This film is adapted from their project Side by Side, which premieres as a 12-channel video art installation in Seoul and New York City later this summer.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.