Orphan identity

I finally finished the book on Korean adoption. The author is quite critical of the U.S. involvement in Korea, but the view of Japanese occupation still causes a negative view from Koreans. A pew poll shows that 75% of Koreans have a positive view of the U.S., but a 77% negative view towards Japan. For an occupation military, Pate did not consider this view in the research. Of the over 170,000 Koreans adopted to date, some probably had a bad experience. That situation is unfortunate, but pate did not consider the long term effects of simply leaving the children to starve and die. Even the Korean president wanted the orphans gone as their numbers presented a drain to the country. If some struggle with their identity thinking they must be American, then the adopted Koreans should reflect on the outcome had they stayed in their country. The overwhelming majority came from war or poverty. In our pluralistic society, it is fine to be Korean, Korean-American, or American.

Pate, S. (2014). From orphan to adoptee. U.S. empire and genealogies of Korean adoption. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press