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매앨경제 Maeil
2008.08.21
진실.화해 위한 해외입양인모임 출범
해외입양 중단, 이중국적 취득 지향
'진실과 화해를 위한 해외입양인 모임(TRACK)'이 21일 서울 역삼동의 라르고 아트홀에서 입양인과 국내 인사 50여명이 참가한 가운데 창립 총회를 열고 본격적으로 한국사회와의 화해 모색에 나섰다. 1년 여의 '항해준비' 작업 끝에 이날 닻을 올린 TRACK은 시인인 유종순 인터넷 저널 대표를 초대 회장으로, 연세대에서 입양 관련 주제로 석사학위를 받은 덴마크 입양인 한분영 씨(여)를 사무총장으로 각각 선출했다.
10명으로 구성된 운영위원에는 스웨덴 입양인으로 최근 한글판 '해외입양과 민족주의'를 펴낸 토비야스 휘비네트(37.한국명 이삼돌) 박사와 정경아(미국) 씨 등 해외입양인 4명외에 이종옥 민주화운동기념사업회 국제협력팀장, 오기출 푸른아시아 사무총장 등이 선정됐다.
유 회장은 TRACK 출범에 대해 "국내에 돌아온 500여명의 해외 입양인들이 한국사회와 화해하고 한국인의 일원으로 어울려 살아가기 위한 첫 발자국을 내디딘 의미가 있다"면서 "TRACK의 출범이 미국, 유럽 등지에서 정체성 문제로 고통받는 해외입양인들에게도 좋은 소식이 되었으면 한다"고 말했다.

연합뉴스 Yonhap News
2008.08.11
해외입양인 '한국사회와 화해' 모색
진실.화해 위한 입양인모임 21일 창립
“수구초심(首丘初心)하는 여우의 심정으로, 모천회귀(母川回歸)하는 연어의 마음으로 저희 탯줄이 묻힌 땅으로 돌아왔습니다.”
한국에 돌아와 정착한 입양인들이 주도하는 ’진실과 화해를 위한 해외입양인 모임(TRACK)’이 21일 오후 2시 서울 역삼동의 라르고 아트홀에서 창립 총회를 열고 한국사회와의 화해 모색에 나선다.
해외입양인의 한국정착을 돕는 비영리단체인 ’뿌리의 집’의 김도현 원장(목사)은 11일 이 같이 밝혔다.

The Korea Times
2008.08.22
S. Korean Adoptees to US Drop Gradually
The number of South Korean children adopted by U.S. families declined gradually for the past years as a growing number of Koreans adopt their compatriot orphans.
Yonhap News reported that the U.S. State Department issued visas for 939 Korean orphans last year, quoting the department's figures released recently.
The figure compares with 1,376 for 2006, 1,668 in 2005, 1,773 in 2004 and 1,817 for 2003.
South Korean government statistics show that 161,202 children were sent overseas for adoption from the end of the Korean War in 1953 to 2006, with South Korea being labeled a "baby-exporting"

The Korea Herald
2008.08.21
Adoptees urge S. Korean gov`t to inquire into truth of overseas adoption

Dozens of Korean adoptees sent over overseas for adoption urged on Thursday the South Korean government to make an official inquiry into the program of international adoption from South Korea, reported Yonhap News Agency.
The adoption issue and its history has never been comprehensively addressed on a national level by the government of (South) Korea, said Truth and Reconciliation for the Adoption Community of Korea (TRACK) in a statement. The main purpose of the national inquiry is to make the first, decisive step in the process of documenting the full and complete history of international adoption from South Korea.
The first general meeting of TRACK was held on Thursday in downtown Seoul, with some 50 participants including overseas Korean adoptees and supporter.

Voice of America News
13 August 20008
South Korea Debates International Adoption
By Jason Strother
Seoul
**Since the 1950's, South Korea has sent more than 150,000 orphaned children
to live with Western families. That is in part due to a prejudice that many

Korean Women's Development Institute (KWDI) had a forum on August 14th to discuss the current situation involving single mothers in Korea.
Here are two links to watch Dr. Boas' speech. See below for more information on Dr. Boas.
Link on TRACK's website:
http://adoptionjustice.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/dr-richard-boas-at-kwdi.html
Link on YouTube:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=a9p-ohslFag
Dr. Boas is an American adoptive parent of a girl from Korea. He used to promote international adoptions but after his first trip to Korea, suddenly did a complete 180 and has invested much time, money, and energy into supporting Korean single moms for the past two years. He has created the Korean Unwed Mothers Supprt Network in Korea. He has also been a wonderful listener to the adult adoptees and has my greatest respect.

The Korea Herald
2008.07.17
Number of juvenile sex offenders increases over 80 pct.
The number of reported sex offenders under 19 years old in Korea increased by over 80 percent in the last five years, government officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
"There was an 83.3 percent rise in offenders under age 19, from 1,165 to 2,136," said Seo Young-hak, an officer at the Task Force for Protection of Children and Women in the Ministry of Gender Equality, citing police statistics recorded from 2003-2007. Seo was speaking at the Korea-U.S. International Symposium Related to Sexual Violence of Children and Juveniles, held in southern Seoul.
Within the same period, the number of reported sex offenders increased from 11,968 in 2003 to 16,500 in 2007, a 37.9 percent increase, Seo explained.
"The problem of sex offenders who are under 19 years old is getting serious ... The tendency of increasing incidents and decreasing age of the sex offender have a significant effect on policies on sexual offenses," he said.

Aired on KBS Thursday May 15, 2008
Link to Kim Sunee's KBS documentary:
http://www.kimsunee.com/video.html
- go to #3: KBS Documentary of Kim's Trip to Korea
Kim Sunee is the author of the memoir "Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home" published in January 2008. This documentary follows her from Birmingham to Korea.
www.kimsunee.com

New York Times
Published: May 27, 2008
De-emphasis on Race in Adoption Is Criticized
By RON NIXON
WASHINGTON — Minority children in foster care are being ill-served by a federal law that plays down race and culture in adoptions, a report released on Tuesday said.
The report, based on an examination of the law's impact over a decade, said that minority children adopted into white households face special challenges and that white parents need preparation and training for what might lie ahead.
But it found that social workers and state agencies fear litigation and stiff penalties under the law for even discussing race with adopting couples. As a result, families often do not get the counseling they need. It also found that states have ignored an aspect of the law that requires diligent recruitment of black parents.

www.allkpop.com
2008.05.18

Hero - Birthdate: January 26, 1986. Real Name: Jaejoong is the lead vocal of the group TVXQ. He won the best looking award in the SM Entertainment auditions and also passed the singing competition. His hobby is weight training and cooking. He sometimes carries out the role of a “big brother” or the “mother” towards the members, and also gives the most criticisms to the members regarding music. He has deep thoughts and talks straight-forwardly, which sometimes gets him into trouble. He enjoys cooking in his spare time and can prepare 15 kinds of dishes easily. Many, including himself, say that he gives a cold impression when first met, however, the members say he is most ‘loving’ and warm in the group after getting to know him better.To the shock of the fans, it was revealed in 2006 that Jaejoong was adopted and his real last name was Han. He was raised by adoptive parents as a baby who had not revealed to him that he was adopted. He had no contact with his biological parents to the point where he did not even know of them until his biological mother came forward after his debut as a singer. His biological father was going to sue for custody, against his wishes, but dropped the case after Jaejoong’s statement recognizing the man as his father. In a public statement, Jaejoong stated he wanted both his mothers to live happily and take care of him. He will not, however, change his name. In a recent poll started by China’s Xingkong Weishi (Starry Sky) Satellite channel, Hero Jaejoong was voted as “Asia’s most handsome guy". Approximately 40 million Netizens and viewers participated in this month-long poll that started in January and out of the said number, Hero placed first with a total of 4,176,192 votes (more than 10%).
http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/articles_full/allkpop_poll_contest_koreas_hottest_star_finals_male_bracket/