Thank you for the opportunity to donate to an excellent organization this FESTA. I hope more Korean adoptees find answers, families, and heritage they seek. From an mixed-race ARMY who is learning more about her own Korean heritage. 💜

**KoRoot’s Mission**

KoRoot is a South Korean organisation that, since 2003, has been assisting Korean adoptees in their search for the truth about their origins and in reconnecting with their biological families. Many of the children sent abroad have no knowledge of who their birth parents are, and the truth about their past is often hidden or obscured by falsified records.

KoRoot works closely with adoptees who are determined to understand where they come from and who dream of reuniting with their families. Their support includes:

- Interpreting old documents, often written in Korean or classical *Hanja*, which can be difficult to understand.
- Tracing information when documents are missing or falsified.
- Helping adoptees rebuild relationships with their biological families.
- Supporting biological families who turn to KoRoot in the hope of finding their children.
- Offering a safe and welcoming place in Korea for adoptees. People travel from all over the world in search of answers. KoRoot serves as a home away from home – which is why its slogan is *“The Adoptees’ Embassy in Korea.”*

**A Painful Search for Truth**

KoRoot’s work goes far beyond traditional genealogy or simply requesting official documents. Many records have been deliberately falsified to hide what truly happened. Some children were taken from their families without consent or knowledge. In the most harrowing cases, children were abducted, and their families were given no chance to object. In some instances, death certificates were even issued – despite the children being alive and secretly sent abroad for adoption.

This means that KoRoot’s work often resembles that of investigators, piecing together clues to discover what really happened. It requires immense time, patience, and effort to uncover the truth and help adoptees understand their personal histories.

**How KoRoot Makes a Difference**

- Reuniting adoptees and birth families, when possible.
- Giving adoptees the opportunity to learn their own stories and come to terms with their past.
- Providing professional support to rebuild relationships across language and cultural divides.
- Advocating for accountability for past wrongdoing.
- Preventing future abuses through education and research.

KoRoot offers hope to those who feel lost – helping them reclaim their roots and rebuild their sense of self.

**About One In An ARMY (OIAA)**

One In An ARMY is a fan collective composed of BTS ARMY. Following our motto that every ARMY can make a huge impact if we all come together, we run fundraisers connecting grassroots organizations around the world with ARMY.

#ReuniteWithBTS

KoRoot is an NGO providing leadership to the worldwide adoption community on issues of adoptees’ right to origin.

KoRoot is an NGO providing leadership to the worldwide adoption community on issues of adoptees’ rights to their birth records, and solidarity efforts with single parent families fighting for family preservation. KoRoot is finding solutions to the root causes of overseas adoption matters by increasing awareness about the economic disparities and discrimination targeting adoptees and single moms in Korea.

 Together with Korean adoptees

Almost 200,000 Korean children have been adopted internationally since the 1950s. Today hundreds of children are still being sent abroad for adoption every year. More than 90 per cent of babies put up for adoption are the children of unwed mothers, who fear being rejected by a socially conservative society.

 When overseas adoptees reach adulthood, many choose to return to South Korea, to learn more about the country of their birth and search for family members.

 KoRoot was established to support these overseas adoptees with the challenges they face in navigating an unfamiliar country and seeking answers about their family background and identity. Their guesthouse provides a welcoming home for ‘returnees’ on their visits to Korea, as well as a range of assistance including family tracing, trauma counselling and cultural events for returnees to build their understanding of Korean culture.

 

Approach

KoRoot is committed to reducing international adoption in South Korea.

 Their research institute focuses on raising awareness of the issues surrounding overseas adoption by publishing books, translating key academic literature about adoption and child development into Korean. KoRoot promote alternatives to international adoption including family strengthening services and domestic adoption.

 They collaborate with other volunteer groups in Korea to lobby for the country’s adoption law to meet international standards. Returning adoptees often participate in these events, sharing their first-hand experiences. In 2011 KoRoot established a ‘Single Mother’s Day’ that is now celebrated annually, to raise awareness of the rights of unwed mothers and reduce the stigma they face in society.

The Institute of Korean Root(KoRoot)

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The Institute of Korean Root(KoRoot)

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