Adoption in the USA : About MPAK

The Gathering of the Seeds from the East

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:02:00 GMT

The Gathering of the Seeds from the East

(A speech by Stephen C. Morrison, given at the Korean Ambassador’s Residence
during the International Gathering of Korean Adoptees, Washington D.C., 9/11/1999)

The Honorable Dr. Lee Hong-koo and the people of Korea, and to all of the distinguished guests and friends, I thank you for the special hospitality you have extended to all the adoptees and families of the “Gathering”.

The word “Gathering” holds a special significance for me. Over forty years ago when Mr. Harry Holt, the founder of Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. was on his way to Korea to adopt eight children, he was beset by doubts and worry. He wasn’t sure whether what he was about to do was from God. Being a Godly man, he prayed and God led him to the verse in Isaiah 43:5, which states, “Fear not for I am with thee; I will bring thy seeds from the east, and gather thee from the west.” Mr. Ambassador, today in the west, you are witnessing this remarkable “Gathering” of those seeds from the east.

Excellency, what thoughts do you have as you see all of us gathered here? Just who are we? And how should we view ourselves and our adoption experience? No words can truly express how many of us feel regarding our adoption experience. We did not choose our beginnings. We did not choose to be abandoned. We did not choose to be orphans. We did not choose to live in orphanages. And we did not choose to be adopted!

However, God gave these things to us for reasons we don’t fully understand. We can’t change our past. We must accept things given to us, past and present, and move on. But one thing is clear. Though we didn’t choose our humble beginnings, we have been given the opportunity to choose our future. We can choose our dreams. We can choose our destiny. God has given us the freedom. But above all He has given us families. This is truly what adoption has allowed us to have.

Mr. Ambassador, we would like to thank the Korean Government and the people of Korea for letting us go. We would like to thank Korea for the opportunities given to us to build our dreams here. Many of us would have been unable to reach goals and live fulfilling lives had we remained in Korea. Lastly, we want to thank you tonight for listening to all of us. May God bless you.

- Stephen C. Morrison

An Adoptee's Perspective in Korean Adoption

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:59:00 GMT

An Adoptee's Perspective in Korean Adoption

By Stephen C. Morrison (Choi Suk Choon, USA)

Introduction

It gives me a great pleasure and honor to speak before you in this joyous occasion to celebrate and promote adoption in Korea with all of you. Specifically I would like to thank the Korea Social Welfare Society's President Kim Myung Woo, Director Ms. Kang Young Nim and the staff members at SWS for inviting me to this place of honor. I would also like to thank the Korean Government's involvement in this occasion as well.

My Family

My Korean name is Choi Suk Choon. I grew up in the Holt Children's Center at Il-San, Korea and was adopted by a wonderful family when I was fourteen years old. I am now a grown man with a family of my own. My adoptive parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Morrison, loved me very much. Despite the fact that they had three of their own biological children (two daughters and one son), they adopted two children from Korea. Under their care and love, I was raised with Christian values and learned what it means to have a family. By observing them, I learned what parental love was all about. Especially, my father was a role model for me to follow into my manhood. He taught me what it means to be a gentleman. He also taught me what it means to be a good father and a husband. I shall never forget the time when my father told me, "Steve, I have made some very good and important decisions in my life. The best decision was to believe in God. The second best decision was to marry your mother. And the third best decision was to have you in our family."

My Vision

During the past four years, I have given many testimonies at various Korean churches regarding my adoption experience, and shared the love I have received from my parents and from God. Through such speaking events I have tried to be an instrument to give God the glory, and to open up the Korean hearts for homeless children by promoting adoption in the Korean community. I have tried to be a voice on behalf of homeless children. My conviction is that the time has come for Koreans to open up their hearts to adopt homeless Korean children. In order for them to do this, their hearts and attitudes towards the orphans need to change. I have spoken to remove the social stigma attached to orphans and adoptees. As a Christian, I have especially tried to reach out to the Korean Christians to look at such children with the compassion that Christ felt for them. In Mark 9:37, Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes the least of these children in my name welcomes me." My desire is that the Korean government will take the leadership role in promoting adoption of Korean children into Korean homes. I really believe the day will come when Korean families will adopt all the Korean orphans. This is my passion. This is my vision.

Founded Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK)

In view of this, I have established an organization called "Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK), with a web site address at: www.mpak.com. MPAK was found to promote adoption in Korea by:

1) Advocating the needs of homeless children in Korea.

2) Removing the negative social stigma attached to homeless children and adoptees.

3) Enabling Koreans to overcome fear in adoption.

4) Encouraging Koreans to adopt openly and not secretly.

In my opinion, Koreans practicing secret adoption for fear of what others might say to them and to their children is the biggest barrier in promoting adoption in Korea. Unless Koreans have positive attitudes toward adoption and adopt them as openly as in the western world, there will continue to be children without homes in Korea. I believe the time has come for Koreans to open up their hearts and homes to homeless children.

My Answers to Criticism in Foreign Adoption

Many Koreans have demanded to discontinue the foreign adoption, stating that it is a national shame. Myself and thousands of adoptees who have found homes will testify that we are grateful that Korea let us go. We are grateful that we were given second chances. We are grateful that we no longer are homeless and have families of our own. For the Korean Government to continue to allow the foreign adoption, it is showing the "national courage of care" rather than "national shame". The real national shame is when children are kept in orphanages and their opportunity to have families is blocked.

My Request to Koreans

In order for adoption to become acceptable, Korean hearts and attitudes toward the orphans and adoptees must change. Koreans need to treat orphans like fellow human beings rather than treat them like objects. People must stop using unkind expressions such as "a thing picked up from under a bridge". Also, I do not appreciate when Koreans speak of us adoptees as exported items. We are people too. We have feelings and sense of human dignity and pride. We must learn to respect the rights of children who did not choose to become orphans nor was it their fault to be homeless.

As for adoptees, I would like to say to all the Koreans that we do not need your pity and sympathy. We have families of our own. We are healthy, we are well educated, we have jobs, and we are contributing members to our society. It is those remaining homeless children in Korea that need your pity and sympathy. It is those children that need your love and care, and your homes. Please do not feel sorry or embarrassed that Korea could not take care of us by sending us abroad. Instead, we are truly grateful for your actions because many of us have found homes and experienced the love that shaped our lives in profound ways.

My Request to the Korean Government

In my effort to promote Korean adoption during the past four years, I have met many Korean families who were willing to adopt homeless children from Korea. However many Korean families were turned away because they didn't meet the age requirement. I have noticed that approximately 30 percent of the Koreans who wanted to adopt were beyond the age limit of 44, and could not qualify to adopt children. Also, I have noticed that approximately 35 percent of the Koreans wanted older children who are five years old and over. But they couldn't adopt since Korea sends abroad infants only.

I would like to ask the Korean government to reconsider the age restriction, and also to reconsider the age of children who are being sent abroad. I would like to ask the Korean government to extend a special privilege to Koreans living in America and in Korea so that there will be more Koreans who will qualify to adopt and make available to them older children as well.

Propose Month of Adoption in Korea

I once had a dream where I read a big banner hanging from a tall building in Seoul that said, "November is The Month of Adoption." In America we celebrate the month of November as the Month of Adoption. I would like to propose to the Korean Government to institute "The Month of Adoption" in Korea as well. It doesn't have to be in November. It doesn't have to last a month. "The Day of Adoption" is appropriate as well. Perhaps the month of May is appropriate with family related days consisting of "Children's Day" and "Mother's Day". If Korea designates a day or a month to celebrate and promote adoption, I will wholeheartedly support its effort establish such day.

Closing Thoughts

I wish to express to you how proud and grateful I am to have a Korean heritage. I am proud of the fact that my root points to the nation that has 5000 years of rich culture and heritage. I can speak the Korean language fluently now. I can read well and write with some difficulty. I am especially proud of the Korean Government's policies toward the homeless children in Korea. I am very grateful that the Korean Government has allowed thousands of homeless children to have homes of their own in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

When Mr. Harry Holt and his wife Bertha sold their farm and lumber business in Oregon in 1956 and began the legacy to find homes for the needy children in Korea, their vision was that "Every Child Deserves a Home of His Own." I am very grateful that Korea shared the same vision throughout all these years. We can have the same vision in Korea today. We must because children depend on us. Praying that more and more Koreans will reach out and adopt homeless children in the future... I thank you again for this privilege to speak to you. Thank you.

My Family (L to R): Steve, Helen(2), Jody, Margaret (Mother), John(Father), Kay (2 mos. not shown)

A Special Greeting Message from the late Bertha Grandma Holt

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:51:00 GMT

A Greeting Message to MPAK Visitors! From the Late Bertha "Grandma" Holt Founder, Holt International Children's Services, Inc

Note: Beloved Grandma Holt passed away on July 31, 2000 at Creswell, Oregon. She has left a legacy of love through adoption and through her faith in God. She is remembered for her statement that, "All Children Are Beautiful When They Are Loved." Generations of adopted children represent the product of her simple act of obeying God’s leading in her life. To homeless children and adoptive families around the world she was simply “Grandma Holt.” The following letter on behalf of MPAK was written on August 1999.

Dear MPAK Visitors:

I am so glad you are visiting the MPAK web site. I have been helping homeless children in Korea to have families of their own for close to 43 years by establishing the Holt International Children's Services, Inc. My husband Harry and I began the work with the vision, "Every Child Deserves a Home of His Own." That has been the motto at Holt International for all these years.
Each year, many Korean children are being placed into families in the US and in Europe. However, a greater number of children remain homeless in Korea. I really believe the time has come for Koreans to open their hearts and homes to the homeless children in Korea. I say this with a sense of urgency since Korea will end the foreign adoption program sometime in the future, thus forcing many children to grow up in orphanages in Korea.

I am very grateful that an organization such as MPAK was formed to promote adoption in Korea, where the concept of adoption is not popular. MPAK's founder, Mr. Steve Morrison is one of thousands of children I can proudly claim as my grandchildren. Steve was orphaned at an early age and was adopted by a wonderful family in the US. He is now a space systems engineer working in the aerospace industry researching in satellite systems technology. Steve has faithfully served as a member of the board of directors at Holt International for sixteen years. Steve's dream is that someday Korea will become as open to adoption as it is in the west. My hope is that someday Korea would view adoption as something very beautiful, and many Koreans will adopt homeless children in Korea.

I pray that there will be other adoptees and Koreans who will join Steve in this Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea. May God bless you all.

Lovingly,

Bertha "Grandma" Holt

The History of MPAK

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:49:00 GMT

The History of MPAK
By Stephen C. Morrison

Ever since leaving Korea at the age of 14 to become a new member of the Morrison family in Salt Lake City, Utah, I have never forgotten the faces of homeless children who remained in Korea with no families of their own. Though my life as a Morrison was a very happy one, I always remembered the friends I left in Korea, and the countless number of children who had to grow up in orphanages. I remember thinking how wonderful it would be if the Koreans would adopt those children like they do in the US.

After graduating from college, I got involved with the Holt International Children's Services, Inc. of Eugene, Oregon. I went on the Motherland Tour to Korea with 31 other grown adoptees in the summer of 1983. It was the first time back to visit since leaving Korea. It was a wonderful trip. At the request from Holt, I wrote an article that reflected my sentiment on the trip. It was titled, "The Memories of Il-San" , which was published in the Hi-Families Magazine and now in the Holt web site under Adoptees section.

Because of my continued interest and support for Holt, I was elected to the Board of Directors at Holt. I was honored and privileged to serve on the board with Mrs. Bertha Holt, the founder. As a little kid growing up in Il-San, I remember calling her "Holt Halmoni", meaning Grandma Holt. I also remember her husband Harry Holt very well. Harry used to let me ride on his earthmover as he worked in the fields of Il-San. Not in my wildest imagination have I ever thought that one day I would seat alongside Grandma Holt in the council of the board at Holt to join them in helping homeless children throughout the world. It was like a grown up son joining his parents to take a part in the mission, which he was, a benefactor. I served sixteen years on the board and was very grateful for the opportunity to serve.

In 1989, I began to work at the Aerospace Corporation as a satellite systems engineer. The company is in El Segundo, California, employed around 4000 people. There I befriended several Koreans. Among them was a man named Chul Min Kim. People called him "Kim Jang No Nim" meaning "Elder Kim" since he was an Elder at a large Korean Presbyterian church. The Elder Kim took special interest in me and we became very good friends even though he was ten years senior to me. He was very spiritual. Fortunately, most of the other Koreans at Aerospace were Christians as well. Whenever we went out to lunch together, the discussion always centered on things happening in their church and other Christian topics.

He was a dynamic Christian man who inspired me to be a better Christian through his example. Often I would visit his office and he would visit mine and we would talk about everything from finding me a wife (I was a single then) and more church related discussion. He taught a Christian marriage seminar for singles and couples, and had a weekly Korean Christian radio program on the subject of Christian marriage. Also, I would occasionally talk to him about my adoption experience and my parents.

I remember one day I was in his office talking about my adoption experience. After listening to me for a while, he looked at me straight and said, "Steve, as far as I can see, there is only one thing you are missing." I looked at him thinking that maybe he would say I needed a wife. Instead he said, "You need to go around different churches and give testimonies. You need to give God the credit for what He has done in your life."

I forgot about our conversation for some time after that. Each year I remember going up to Eugene, Oregon for the Holt Board meetings. By this time I have already been a board member for over ten years. I began to think how I might be able to serve more actively before my term expired. It was during that time Korea was trying hard to avoid being embarrassed for being labeled as the number one exporter of orphans in the world. Some called it a national shame in light of the fact the country is no longer considered a poor nation.

However, Koreans were not about to adopt their own children to alleviate the large number of children being placed into foreign countries. They faced a dilemma with guilt. They didn't want children to go abroad, but they weren't willing to adopt themselves. This is because the concept of adoption is not very well accepted in Korea. (See The Biggest Barrier in Korean Adoption: Secrecy in Adoption)

In the early 1995, I was in the office of the Elder Chul Min Kim and confided in him that I would like to look into the possibility of promoting adoption in the Korean community in the LA area. When I shared with him my thoughts, he said it was a great idea. He immediately invited me to be a guest on his weekly radio program dealing in Christian marriage. I remember asking him, "What's adoption got to do with Christian marriage?" When I asked him that question he said it was appropriate with the theme of the program and said, "Just come and share your heart." I was thinking perhaps he was running out of the guest speakers and was desperate to have me on the program regardless of topics.

It was right at that moment a lightening flashed in my mind. I said, "Well, yes, this is a Christian marriage radio program. Why don't I talk about my parents who I really think set before me a living example of what a Christian marriage is all about. And how can I talk about them without talking about my adoption?" The Elder Kim beamed with a smile as if to say that was what he had in mind.

It was March 1995 when we arrived at the Gospel Broadcasting Station in the Koreatown. I interviewed with the Elder Kim and a lady named Mrs. Yoon Jung who directed the program. The interview was for 30 minutes. As they asked me questions on my parents and my adoption experience, I spoke from the bottom of my heart. I spoke to them of my parents' love for God and for me. I spoke about Harry and Bertha Holt. I spoke about my growing up with the new family. I spoke of God's wonderful mercy and grace He has shown me through the adoption experience.

Mrs. Yoon did most of the questioning. I didn't realize it until later in the program that the Elder Kim was very quiet without saying much. I thought that was odd. I glanced over to look at him and saw tears streaming down on his face. Even though I spoke gently of my experience and without much drama, my testimony nevertheless moved his heart. There wasn't enough time and we had to continue the following week.

After the interviews, there were phone calls from people who wanted to know more about adoption. Soon after that the Elder Kim and I met again over a lunch and discussed how we might approach promoting adoption in the Korean community. A plan began to form. What we decided to do was to hold an event at a local Korean church and invite Grandma Holt, the founder of Holt, and David Kim, the former president of the Holt to be the guest speakers. The Elder Kim insisted that I speak as well. To put this event together, an organizing sponsor team was needed. I was invited by the Elder Kim to come and speak before the men and women of the Voice Mission Fellowship group in LA. The Elder Kim was the president of this group, which supported the Korean missionaries all over the world. There I spoke for the first time in a public setting. The purpose of my testimony was to speak my heart to those men and women of the fellowship group to see if they would be willing to sponsor the event we had in mind. Afterward they all agreed that holding an event to promote adoption in the Korean community was in line with their mission.

It was right around that time a big article came out in the front page of the second section in The Korea Times in May 31, 1995. It featured a picture of me holding a satellite model, and a picture of me taken on the first day I arrived in the States, and a picture with my parents. The article was written by Ms. Rok Park and was very well written. It read as if she put her heart into it. From that day, I received numerous phone calls from the Koreans all over the US. The majority of the calls came from the LA area. The timing of the article was perfect since we were going to hold the event on June 17, 1995. The people at the Voice Mission Church went out of their ways to make me appear in a television special. I was featured in a segment called Saturday Report, a fifteen minute segment on the coming event and introducing me as an adoptee in the space technology world. The reporters from KTAN-TV came to my company and videotaped my work. The TV report was also done very well. There were a couple of radio interviews as well. I was very busy trying to follow the instruction given by the people at the Voice Mission who knew how to get the words out about the June 17th event.

So began the event called, "Ib Yang Gan Jeung Ui Bam", or "The Night of Testimony in Adoption" in June 17, 1995. The event was held at the former Choong Shin Presbyterian Church in LA and was attended by around 250 Koreans. It was well organized and coordinated by the members of the church as well as the members of the Voice Mission. There were three main objectives for the event: 1) To promote adoption in the Korean community, 2) To remove social stigma attached to orphans and adoptees, 3) To raise funds for the Holt International Children's Services. Grandma Holt gave a testimony on how she began her work to help homeless children. Dr. David Kim shared his experience during his 40 years of service at Holt. I gave a testimony of my own after them.

At the end of the event, there were approximately 20 families who wanted to know more about adoption. There were 20 new sponsors who signed up to $25 per month donation to support a child, and thousands of Dollars were raised through donations. As I took Grandma Holt and David Kim to the LA airport the next day, they were so grateful for the opportunity to take a part in the event. I can still remember Dr. Kim telling the Koreans that during the 40 years of service at Holt, he had always wished he could reach the Korean community some day, and that day has finally arrived.

The whole experience buoyed my heart and many others. Through mass media and through other channels, many people became aware of the needs of homeless children, and for the first time, many have started to ask themselves, "Is adoption an option for my family?" On the night when the event was finished, a couple named Patty and Moon Choe came up to me afterwards and said, "We have made up our mind tonight to adopt." If the event were just for that couple only, it would have been well worth it. Today, Patty and Moon have a son they adopted from Korea and they told me how joyous they are because of the boy. They are now planning to adopt another one. I hope their dream will come true soon. How I wish there were more Korean families like them.

From that day on, I began to get invitations from various churches in the LA area to come and give them my testimony. A church in Pennsylvania once invited me as well. There was another aspect of my life that was quickly changing. I believed I have finally found a mission in my life. It all began to make sense why God would make me suffer as a child, be adopted by a loving family in the US, raise me the way He did, and give me a burden in my heart for those children who remain in Korea. When I realized that God had placed in me a special burden in my heart for those children, God blessed me with a beautiful wife named Kyong Mee, who shared the same vision with me. We were married in December 1995. He blessed me with a new house, and I subsequently got a new job with a promotion at TRW Space and Technology Division as a Senior Systems Engineer. My daughter Helen was born in 1997. I now had everything that I had always dreamed of, having a family of my own. One of the most joyous moments was watching my Mom and Dad come out to LA just to celebrate with us the first year birthday party for Helen. It was a dream come true for me as I watched them holding my daughter on their laps.

In 1997 October 4, 1997 we did another "Ib Yang Gan Jeung Ui Bam", or "The Night of Testimony in Adoption" at the First Presbyterian Church of the Orange County. This time it was sponsored by the Shin Woo World Mission, Inc. It was possible, because my friend, Elder Chul Kim became the president there later. It was a much bigger church than the one we had before in 1995 and was attended by approximately 200 people. The guest speakers were Grandma Holt and Molly Holt. For over 40 years Molly has served the homeless special needs children living in the Holt Il-San Children's Center. She remained single all her life just so that she could devote herself to those children. What an experience she shared. There was not one heart that didn't get touched that night. In addition to them, I again gave my testimony. The objectives were similar as before: 1) To promote adoption in the Korean community, 2) To change the negative social stigma toward orphans and adoptees, and 3) To raise funds to help the special needs children living in the Holt Il-San Children's Center.

The second event resulted in approximately twelve families wanting to know more about adoption, 22 new sponsors, and thousands of Dollars were raised on behalf of the children at Il-San. Just as the first event two years earlier, I'm sure there were many changed hearts toward orphans and adoptees, and many were challenged to think about adoption as an option.

Having done the past two events over the span of four years, I have often wondered if I should form an organization whose express purpose is to promote adoption of Korean children by Korean families. Through the two events, I had many friends who shared the same enthusiasm and concern for the homeless children in Korea. Lately the concern included children in North Korea as well. But I wasn't sure about forming an organization, that is, until my trip to Korea during the Christmas season in 1998.

My family traveled to Korea to spend the Christmas with my wife's family living in Korea. I was invited by the English Ministry of the Sarang Community Church in Seoul to come and give testimony on three different services. That was a great experience since I have never spoken at three different services in one day. I believe they were challenged by my testimony. They were very appreciative of my message. I think there were many changed hearts, and several couples came to me afterward to say they will consider adoption in the future.

I spoke at the Holt Il-San Children's Center where Molly Holt worked and lived. Of all the places I have spoken so far, that one was the most meaningful one for me because that was my childhood home. I spoke to about 250 people who consisted of special needs children and the workers. I also met the Rev. Han Min Hee, the minister for the children living in the Center. He was gracious enough to introduce me to several churches. While in Korea, I spoke nine different times. Despite catching flu, God used me each time. I even got invited to speak at a Junior High School where I spoke before the 900 students. My job was to teach them to be more service-minded rather than to think only of themselves. The principal was very concerned for his students. I hope those students realize what a fine principal they have. Speaking to them was a challenging experience since the request was made with such a short notice and I had no prior preparation time.

One of the most memorable time I had along with speaking at the Holt Il-San Center, was visiting an orphanage in Kimchon City, about three hours drive south of Seoul. The name of the orphanage was Immanuel Children's Center. The director of the Immanuel was Mrs. Kim Jung Sook, who along with her husband are very close to my family. We visited the infant room and were surprised to see so many children. In a room that was suitable for six or seven babies, there were about fifteen babies there. Some babies didn't have crib spaces so they were laid on a large soft blanket on the floor. There they slept and ate. According to the Director Kim, due to the bad economic condition in Korea, their parents abandoned them. In the recent months Korea has experienced a tremendous economic decline where many families have been hit hard. Children are the ones who suffered the most. It really saddened my heart to see those babies there.

Another thing I learned while in Korea was that the Korean Government was gradually cutting back on foreign adoption. Each year fewer children are being allowed to be placed into foreign homes. Their intention is to close the foreign adoption completely some day (see LA Times Article). I believe they should. However, only if there are enough Korean families who are willing to adopt children who could otherwise be placed into foreign families. I'm afraid that there will be more children who will grow up in orphanages because of this policy. Who will help these children?

I was not aware if there was any effort by the Korean Government to promote Korean adoption, at least not one that I am familiar with. Realizing that Korea will one day stop sending children oversea, I felt a heavy burden in my heart to do something about this. During my talks at various churches and organizations during the past four years, I have always advocated adoption as something that is beautiful and wonderful for both children and parents. Koreans must open up their hearts and homes to homeless children. The time has come for them to abandon the centuries-old tradition and custom of taking care of only their family members and reach out to these children in Christ's love. The Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK) was formed with these thoughts in mind, and to be a voice for those homeless children remaining in Korea.

About MPAK

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:07:00 GMT

The History of MPAK

A Special Greeting Message from the late Bertha "Grandma" Holt

The Mission Statement:

We are dedicated to the Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea. As an organization driven by the Christian principles, we believe it is God's will that children have families of their own. It is our goal to enable many Korean families to open their hearts and homes to the needy children in Korea.

The above mission statement will be accomplished by carrying out the following duties we have placed on ourselves:

1) Advocating the needs of homeless children in Korea.

2) Removing the negative social stigma attached to homeless children and adoptees.

3) Enabling Koreans to overcome fear in adoption.

4) Encouraging Koreans to adopt openly and not secretly.

Clarification: MPAK's definition of "open adoption" is that families who adopt in Korea be open about their adoption experience and not adopt secretly. We do not mean "open records" where all records related to birth parents, and adoptees are opened before those involved in the adoption process. Often adoptees or birth parents view these records in later years to locate one another. There are several organizations composed of adoptees that strongly advocate "open records" adoption. Open records adoption is not an issue we choose to cover. It is a separate issue. Our emphasis is in promoting adoption so that homeless children can have families of their own.

Why We Are Doing This:

1) The responsibility of helping homeless Korean children lies 100% with Koreans. Each year, hundreds of Korean children are placed in loving homes in the US and in Europe. We strongly support foreign adoption and believe it should continue. However, even greater numbers of children are left homeless in Korea who are not adopted. Who will help these children in Korea? It is the responsibility of the Koreans to open up their hearts and homes to these children.

2) Another reason is that Korea is phasing out the foreign adoption program gradually. In a few years the foreign adoption program will be closed completely (see LA Times Article). Unfortunately for children, whether there is an increase in the number of Koreans adopting them or not, the foreign adoption program will come to an end. Most of the children will grow up in orphanages. The only way to help them is to speak on their behalf by promoting adoption in Korea. MPAK was formed to be a voice for the remaining homeless children in Korea.

"Every Child Deserves a Home of His Own." - Harry Holt, Founder of the Holt International Children's Services, Inc.

MPAK's Challenges:

Challenge No. 1: The challenge is to change the centuries old and deeply-rooted cultural mentality of the Koreans to embrace the concept of adoption as something beautiful and worthy, and to encourage them to practice open adoption (see Clarification above) rather than secret adoption. The secret adoption is the result of being fearful of how other Koreans may think negatively of those who adopt and their adopted children. This is the reason why adoption in Korea is not popular. People usually don't do something they fear being embarrassed. Our mission is to convince Koreans of the beauty in adoption, and enable them to overcome the fear of adoption with courage, thereby making the concept of adoption more acceptable to them. This will result in a greater number of homeless children finding homes each year. We are not out to change the Korean society overnight. We intend to keep on promoting adoption for as long as it takes, until Koreans are as open to the concept of adoption as they are in the Western world. This is MPAK's core challenge.

Challenge No. 2: In order to carry out the mission of MPAK, we need to establish support bases both in the US and in Korea in the following ways:

Enlist the support of caring individuals or groups who can join MPAK and work together.
Enlist people who are willing to donate their time.
Enlist financial sponsors - individual donors, or supports from various churches, groups, organization, or companies.
Organize infrastructure to carry out various activities.
Above all, we need prayers of people with hearts and passion for helping homeless children.

Founder's Speeches:

An Adoptee's Perspective in Korean Adoption

The Gathering of the Seeds from the East