This 36-year-old had to sue in order to be acknowledged by her biological father in South Korea. Her lawsuit could impact thousands. WATCH NEXT: 41-year-old Adoptee Deported to South Korea After 37 Years in the U.S - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hbhxetmXyq3WoZc.html

I was adopted from Korea in 1988 to a loving family. I know what it feels to be raised without the culture I was born into and rejected by that culture when I have tried to find acceptance. I know what it feels like to be forced by friends, family, classmates and co-workers to represent a culture that doesn't want me to represent them. It feels trying to glue a leaf that has fallen from a tree back onto the branch. I respect the desire to reconnect and find answers and hopefully build trust, love, respect, and forgiveness, but I've decided to plant my leaf and grow a new tree.

It gets me every time she calls out "mom" in Korean. Dear Kara, you moved many people in Korea. Hope you meet your mother someday.

What's messed up with this is that the biological parents are so ashamed of having given up their children for adoption, that they commit the much more shameful act of denying their biological children any sense of acknowledgment and closure.

Its unfortunate how much shame and family honor plays a part in these types of things. The father could be under a lot of pressure from his family to not connect with her because they don't want their name associated with this. I really wish Kara the best and hope her mother will be more willing to meet with her.

who tf is her biological father that he needed 2 bodyguards and that the whole family didn't want her to meet him like is this Joker

Her father must be super rich to have 2 bodyguards. That's why her half sisters don't want her to meet him.

I was born in Mexico and adopted by U.S citizens at birth back in 1985 and back in 2012 after 27 yrs with the only family I ever had the U.S decided to deport me for illegal entry. I have no desire to find my biological parents I just want to go home.

I am 43 and was born in Korea. Adopted and brought to the USA when I was 3. This is my story too.

Dear Kara, You are a brave and bright soul. I respect so much your courage to seek your roots - your father and your mother, your heritage and relatives. It is such a challenge to do this and perhaps even more so as an adult. As an adoptee I too have a loving family that raised me but at 24 years old, it was difficult to admit even to myself that I wanted to know my roots, and needed to meet my parents. And it happened. My biological mother told me she had to drop out of university to have me, she had loved the man she was with - a fellow university student but there was such a great stigma of having a child "out of wedlock." Her family was angry with her, her boyfriend was studying in another country, so she became a nanny for a family in a big city and had her child - me - alone in a hospital. Twenty years later, sitting in hotel as a middle aged woman she told me, "They wouldn't let me touch you." She broke down and cried. It was only when we got up to say good-bye that was the first time we were able to hug each other. I was so grateful to have a chance to tell her, "I have a good life, a loving family." I bowed my head, "Thank you for having me. Thank you for your sacrifice for me." Later I did meet my father who she married later and had a son! I met him too. Wonderful. But for reasons unexplained she later pushed away saying, "Remember you searched for me, I didn't search for you. You are a stranger to me. Now I see a psychologist because you came back." That was painful. And I also understood she had pain she needed to process and accept. Me too. As the years went by, I thought she would reach out to me. Even on my 50th birthday I thought - maybe she'll call?! Time passes but wounds don't just heal; they need our love and attention. May you live your search and discovery with supple deep compassion for yourself and all your relations, with humour at the unexpected tenderness and hurt and revel in your strength to be with the difficult. Sending you a big hug and love!

Wonder how the nephew feels. Hope he's not ostracized by his family for giving her the name of the father.

Thank you Kara for paving the way for other Korean adoptees. There are so many of us out there struggling with the same issues and it's great to hear there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Her speech at the end in Korean was harrowing to listen to 😭 Hope she finds her birth mother.

Sounds like her biological family thinks she wants something more than just to meet her parents .. yikes

As an adoptee who has only been given minimal information, I can totally appreciate this lady's desire to meet her birth parents. It's to fill a gap or a hole without which many of us will never feel Whole.

during this emotional and tragic story im glad youtube decides its appropriate to interrupt to try and sell me levis.

Adopted from Korea February 25th 1998. I’ve been to Korea twice so far. First time was for a birth family search which was somewhat successful. I lost contact after going back to the states. Second time I was stationed in Korea for a year with the US Army for a year. Whole time I was stationed in Korea I was kind of still in shock being there again. Still dealing with mixed emotions.

The subtitles are too small.

Hello, thank you for this video. I'm a Korean Adoptee from the US who is going to Korea for the first time since my adoption this summer. I am grateful to Kang Mee Sook for her persistence and refusing to be rejected by her own biological father- heart-breaking as it is. But her perseverance changed South Korean laws making it easier for me - and other adoptees - to meet biological family members. So I thank you for this very much. However, at the end of your piece I was a little confused. You stated that the Personal Information Protection Act requires birth parents to disclose their information, but on the same screen you stated that adopted children do NOT have the right to their biological past. Can someone clarify?? Thank you!

Her mom was probably the side chick so her dad forced her mom to put her up for adoption. There's no other reason to deny your child. There's nothing in it for her monetarily as it seems.

This opens her up to receiving inheritance upon her father's death. This was a factor as to why her half siblings wanted her out. She had "nothing" to do with their lives, and this random foreigner will be receiving some inheritance, wtf, was probably their perspective.

My two nieces are Korean and adopted. They are both in their 30’s. What I was told as a kid that a unwed Korean woman who gets pregnant is shamed by her family. So they go stay at a home until the baby is born. They put the child up for adoption. After they have the child they are allowed to come back home. My sister and brother in law used their Korean names as their middle names. One is Hey Rung and the other is Un Me.

I wish her good luck in finding her biological mother.

I am adopted from korea at the age 10 in 1970s. I was not an abandoned and orphaned child. I come from child trafficking. I found the place where i suffered physical and sexual abuse.I gave the adress to the korean police. But i am realist. THE JUSTICE will never be done to this 10 year old child. The guilty can peacefully end their lives without being worried. THIS IS MY TRUE TESTIMONY like among others. I wish Good luck to the korean adoptees in their search for their family.

If your biological parents don't want to meet you what's the point of meeting them? Why force him to meet her if he doesn't want to? What is she going to get out of that? What conversation or even closure are you going to get out of that if they don't want to be reunited. Sorry if it sounds harsh but I really don't understand forcing a meeting with someone who doesn't want to meet you.

It sounds like he did not take responsibility or acknowledge a child he had due to an affair. Even if he wanted to meet her now, the family including his children would turn on him for what they view as another betrayal to their own mother. His first betrayal was cheating on his wife. Although not logical and certainly wrong, the family will see his acceptance of her as second betrayal. This is wrong and completely illogical of course. They should acknowledge their father’s past mistakes and at least give acknowledgment of her existence as her father’s biological daughter and their half sibling. IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

This was beautiful but it was hard to read the small fonts. I grew up in foster homes and group homes so I definitely understand the calling of wanting to know your family. I saw my grandfather when I was in my 40s and he didn't want anything to do with me. I didn't know he was alive and I just wanted to meet him. Perhaps he thought I wanted money or something but honestly it definitely wouldn't money but there is something I definitely want it and it probably was just comfort.

I was adopted from Inchon Korea Father Ben’s Orphanage. I found my mom, but she has 2 new kids, so she didn’t want to meet us. I still would like to find her. My mom left when I was 4 she said she would bring me new shoes after work and she never came back. My Korean dad died when I was 10 ended up in the orphanage. My Korean mom’s parents had a tofu business and I visited them every weekend from Orphanage. If anyone can help find my Korean mom I would really appreciate it. My Korean name is Park Jin Young

Adoptees are an interesting diaspora. I was adopted fr SK in 81 at 6 months old. My White parents were culturally ignorant and arrogant. They push microaggressions like "Asians may be smart but they aren't innovative." (they have never had a single non-White friend)...My mother made me drink milk and eat whole grain wheat daily bc White dr's said it's healthy. She knew Koreans do not tolerate dairy. I now have an autoimmune condition. They never bothered to look into moving to diverse cities bc of their comfort. When I had to deal w/racism, they would say it was my fault for not being nice, etc etc. Adoptees can identify w/both cultures and neither culture, our right to choose since we didn't choose Western people and Koreans didn't choose us. Hopefully I can visit Korea soon, at least to learn more about the healthy food I need to recover.

Why does the father not want to meet the girl ?

Everyone has their cross to bear. It’s so difficult even when we find our biological parents to form a relationship. It just different cultures and different languages. I’m happy she was able to speak Korean but i feel her pain of wanting a relationship or a connection to her biological family

카라 보스님의 아름다운 인생을 응원합니다. dear Kara i cheer for your beautiful life... i wish you well... from korea...

I also feel like if it’s the fathers wish to not meet her they should have to respect that. It’s not like he left on her on the street he put her up for adoption. I’d be pissed if I was the dad. He didn’t want to meet her and it’s further ruining their “relationship” that she wants.

Idk how to feel. I feel like if the birth parents don't want to meet them they shouldn't be forced to. Who knows the history of their parents maybe its something they wish to not be reminded of. Maybe it was a fling and got someone pregnant. Maybe he cheated and got someone pregnant. I think morally he should have met her to answer some questions because he at least owes her that. But forcing him to meet her doesn't accomplish anything

The parents chose something as superficial as how they are perceived by society for putting up their child for adoption over trying to take their child back after she’s actively trying to find them? That’s just flat-out disgusting.

She needs to know her true heritage. Then walk away if she desires.

The family members that blocked her and horrible. I would never do this and blocked a father or mother from meeting their children. The poor father probably wants to see her but cannot because of his family.

I hope Kara and her half-sisters can eventually get along. it's weird to think that, if i suddenly found i had a half-sister, my first action would be to stop her from seeing her/our father??... that's too cruel. Yes, i wouldn't be gung-ho from the beginning. but i couldn't see myself making someone suffer for something they can't control and that isn't their fault.

It is very sad, but it is obvious her parents don’t want to know her...why does she keep fighting? You cannot force them to love and recognize her.

If her biological family were poor would she done something like a lawsuit? It's good for her but very uncommon thing. From the point of view of her half sisters, she is just a foreigner who has nothing to do with their lives.

Good for you, Kara! Your family members had no right blocking you. I’m glad the courts agreed with you. I also agree with the lawyer, Koreans need to face their mistakes and realize children are always going to be a blessing.

As an adoptee, just... Damn.

Im not crying, there's smoke in my eyes. - Northern California resident

Being discarded is no way to live.

I hope everyone will be happy.

Why would you go to such lengths and heart break to meet someone who doesn’t want anything to do with you? How’s sad

Oh good god poor woman this is heartbreaking

This is a sad pattern with some of these abandoned orphans. Usually they were sold. No one had the foresight to see that eventually they want answers .

I was adopted at 6 months old. My parents are amazing loving people and they are my family. I would like to know my biological parents, but I am not sure if I could handle rejection like this. Knowing a family out there rejects you out of shame and hiding it only to have me tear it open would hurt them and me. I don't want to cause pain to them and I think just giving a baby up was probably the hardest painful decision my birth mom ever made. It was literally the best for me and love my family and my life. It would also hurt my real parents because its just so culturally different and they wouldn't be able not to see it as a rejection of their child who they love and gave everything to raise. I would hope that my birth parents would reach out to me, but that hasn't ever happened.

“No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

This is so painful to watch, my mum was one of the last few children flown adopted out of Bangladesh in the 70’s right after being born after the Bengali genocide... and my grandmother never put more than her first naw , and to not know her last name and be able to connect or contact your grandmother to know if she’s ok or alive is the most painful thing ever.

Her biological family is unbelievable. Tsk.

I don't understand why these women feel the need to find and meet their biological parents who threw them away, or gave them up, even though the parents don't want to meet them. They already have adopted parents and adopted name. What are they trying to accomplish by forcing the parent, with the use of law, to meeting them? I don't understand why the Korean government has to force people to meet someone else they don't want to see. Also don't understand why Korean government decided to recognize by law parenthood, while adoptees already have adopted parents. It will be sensitive issue to the Koreans, because they will be required by law to give the adoptees a portion of their assets when the parent dies, regardless of the parent's wishes. No wonder the guy didn't want to meet her.

This doesn't seem right. Her father's decision should have been respected. My biological father does not want to see me either, ive let it go.

This hurt so much seeing the pain of the adoptee. I hope she finds her biological mother. Her biological dad should be ashamed of his actions.😕

I really hope you find your biological mom. Sorry that we have given you up for adoption!

You really need to give more context...

Damn, can the subtitles be any smaller and harder to read when theres white in the background.

1:51 That lawyer is doing more than her law work with that keyboard.

Honest question, please do not attack. Why do so many adopted people feel they must find their biological parents? IMO, dedicating so much time and energy to finding people who obviously don't want to know you is a waste of your time and, more importantly, dismissive of the people who actually made you who you are. Wouldn't it be best to spend that time with them before they're gone?

Even outside of Korea, adoptees deserve to be recognized and to have access to our original documents and even have legal record of our birth parents on our birth certificate.

OMG, how do I get on this? I was also one of those babies.......

What a great dad

I can feel her pain as well too. My biological father denied me as well too from my last phone call with him. What a shame of him

I wouldn’t want to meet my biological parents. To me, a parent’s the person who raised you

This is a sad story, sad that her biological family made it so difficult. It wasn’t her fault she was adopted. I hope she found her biological mother.

Same story here

I feel for her but what about the privacy of the parents.. they put her up for adoption for a reason. They shouldn't be forced to meet her unless they want to

Some bridges are burnt for a reason. I wish her all the luck in the world but she is now in much more pain than she was not knowing the truth.

When I watch these videos they make me sad and angy

I feel so sorry for her😢😢😢😢😢 any updates?

Some people don't believe in destiny but I had a thought for that student who put his DNA in the database,he must have received an earful when he got home. The denial before so much evidence is very sad indeed

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

if i die and in the afterlife they say you are going to hell or you can relive a new life in one of (s.korea - japan) im gladly chose hell . these two country are most disgusted country to having a happy . some ppl will say no its not true , my anwser to them is : if you think living like robot and doing same things 24/7 for 60 yrs of your adulthood and dieing alone is happines then you can have it for yourself . in these countries even being a singer is like torture and be a slave not a art presenter and having fun . just thank god im not born there.

So many adoptees feel that way.

What is the DNA website ? My mom was also adopted

South Korea now is a rich country..Lots of babies were adopted from 1950s to 70s overseas..Hope people now realise that family is far more important than money..

Sorry but you can’t have a baby, then abandon it because it’s not convenient or doesn’t fit the lie you’ve told to your new family. That’s so irresponsible. Her father should be ashamed of himself. Babies are not objects you can just discard. As a Korean, I am ashamed that Korea places image above morality and decency. The culture looks down on single or divorced women who have children and that’s why for such a small nation, they have been the top country to send out children for international adoption for years. In the U.S an existing family would welcome the discovery of a long lost child. Ashamed to say Korea’s superficial culture is so messed up.

Might there also be fear that adopted children might seek inheritance?

How did you know you had a biological dad and so fourth it sounds like someone was trying to keep you from seeing him.I feel for her story she made me think to think about me and my story.Powerful and someone who stood her ground.She can make a difference.

I was the same way! Left at the hospital surviving for my life! I know nothing except I have a brother and Im curious about my blood brother! Is my brother alive, where ad what does he look like, what dose he do for a living and ect!

I'm not sure where to start trying to find my real parents I know I'm from Busan I think. When I asked my adoptive parents for information all they told me is the orphanage guess my age birthday and gave me a name I was a baby when they found me in the orphanage

This is heartbreaking. Korean be kind

Gavin Mccinnis your companies founder was in the news today you might want to do a story on him.

Last time I was this early.... i had morning wood!

Why does she not care about her biological father but she cares about her biological mother?

Not all biological parents want to be found.

Hate me all you want but Amma say these first if your dad gave you up for adoption that in it self says a lot your real dad is the one that took care of you hope he did a great job at that

This is so sad. I'm from Argentina and reside in the US. Deportation is a possibility and it's very intimidating since i never been there. Our title carries such a heavy stigma. For all those like me, I have created a platform for you ✌️❤️🙏

There is nothing moral about giving birth to kids since there are already millions of orphan kids available for adoption worldwide. Also since you can't get the consent of a child to be born in this cruel world. Nobody chose to come into existence. Rather, we were all forced into the unfortunate state of existence without our consent to have to endure all the pain and suffering that comes with it. Had we never existed we’d have never suffered.~ ~ The Benatarian asymmetry demonstrates why it is always better never to exist, regardless of the pleasure to pain ratio in one’s life. Whereas: 1. The presence of pleasure is good, and 2. The presence of pain is bad; 3. The absence of pain is good even if one does not exist to benefit from that good, but 4. The absence of pleasure is not bad unless someone already exists for which such an absence would be a deprivation.~ ~ Given the above, it is always a harm to come into existence and reproduction is never morally justified. For a more in depth look I highly recommend reading Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence by Dr. David Benatar (professor and chairman of philosophy at the University of Cape Town, South Africa).~ ~ Note: The above applies to all sentient beings, not only humans. They too were harmed by being brought into existence.

Font is way too small if on phone.

I can't read every vice video. I'm trying to act like I'm not watching this at my cubicle

What kind of big shot is that man such that his family needs to go through such lengths to block the meeting and even hires bodyguards as they are afraid of the press? Is he some chaebol? Some president of a company? A celebrity? Or just a common man who has no balls?

한국사람으로서 부끄럽다ㅠㅠㅠ

This should've been an amazing K-Drama, right after Korean versions of Suits & Good Wife.

🥰Kara, I pray that your mom come forward to meet you.

amazing story

Love Korea, Hope Covid let us visit this nice country again

How do you guys even begin to find families? We are looking for My husbands family.

That's so cruel to her. What's the harm after so many years?