'I Was Forced Into Adoption Because I'm Black'

Biracial babies born to U.S. soldiers and Korean women were ostracized in South Korea. Racist laws encouraged single mothers to send their biracial children overseas for adoption. That’s one of the ways how South Korea became the world’s largest exporter of babies in the past six decades.

Adoption agencies are accused of falsifying records by making the children orphans on paper. But Kwon-si – or Simon – has clear memories of his mother and of his birthplace in Paju. AJ+ followed him followed him through his personal journey, searching for not only his mother but also his identity.

[marino]

We also need to take Americans who fathered those kids accountable.

[ihatesnakeu.]

"State orchestrated prostitution for US soldiers" might be the most unhinged sentence ive heard

[ACollectorNotAHoarder]

The way so many service members were able to impregnate local, impoverished women and then escape responsibility for their children is absolutely infuriating.

[retroreceptionist]

The grandma trying her hardest to help and then giving him snacks was such a warm grandma thing to do. She changed his life even though she didn’t have the answers

[fabriannnaa]

Even at 50+ this man is still that hurt little boy that was ripped away from his mother. That’s a horrible way to journey through life and I hope he and all the other children that were born into that unfortunate situation find peace and healing.

[JessieBanana]

Treating women as commodities to be offered up to soldiers and then stripping them of their children YEARS later because they don’t fit into your idealized country is truly evil. International adoption is a trauma to most children when it happens as an infant an is necessary, but when it’s not and these kids know and miss their mothers and families is inhumane.

[ainnisahluqman]

Forced into prostitution then forcing to give away their children 😢. The sad reality of women

[TheOrionOracle]

"Just because I was raised in a good family doesn't mean I don't deserve and yearn to know my beginning story.😭😢

[HireAhkesha]

This is my mother’s story too - adopted from Korea at 4 years old b/c her father was a Black US soldier. She went back to find her family too but then COVID hit S Korea and she came back to the US. Watching this reminded me of my roots and that I have ancestors who I may never know, but who may still love me deeply

[Cocorean]

Being half black and Korea and looking for my mom, this brought back so many feelings and emotions. 😢

[juant]

I am half Black American and South Korean and the way this made me cry and feel for this man. I pray he and the other woman find their loved ones.

[zd]

Can you imagine that, your father leaves the country and doesn’t come back, your mum puts you up for adoption, and you’re not a citizen in your own country. We need to count our blessings

[ally]

“Wayne” I don’t know where you’re at, maybe you are in heaven and I’ll see you soon.” Heartbreaking.

[g.keli]

“It’s horrific to be a product that people can sell and buy”

[cinemaducer]

When he showed his childhood clothes, how carefully he preserved it, tells it all. I really hope he will find what he is looking for.🙏

[Industryworth]

Something very similar happened in Vietnam. It’s infuriating what those children went through. They were homeless, starving and abused.

[Marilynspook]

Simon's story is really sad, I cannot imagine the attachment issues he developed from being adopted abroad at the age of 4 years. I hope he can find his mother, or a sense of peace with his life.

[lin]

American always fight in a country and leave a mess behind....they still haven't learnt one thing

[EthnoRecords]

The U.S. did it in The Philippines 🇵🇭 and left a lot of biracial kids there as well. Stumbling upon this video as a Black father to biracial kids (half Asian/ half Black) makes me cringe. This world has always been something. Sad. 😢

[ShannonMichelle]

Omg he still has the shirt his mother made 😢 this is heartbreaking. The governments of many countries did this. I just watched a 60 minutes about thousands of babies from Italy and Belgium who were taken from unwed mothers in the 1950’s. They were shipping the babies to the U.S. to be adopted. The CATHOLIC CHURCH shamed these women, and told them they could reunite with the their babies . They lied and sent the infants away with new names and forged paperwork. The mothers would return for their babies and be told the babies had died. 😢😢😢 It’s so sick and cruel how women have been treated. These poor people with their lost sense of identity.