Lt. Man H. Watson reunited with his biological sister after 17 years in Korea in 2024. Lt. Watson was adopted to the U.S. in 1997. Read article here.
By Jon Oaks
November is a particularly meaningful month for the Korean adoptee community. It's a time to recognize the experiences of adoptees and reflect on the many ways adoption continues to shape our lives. With Veterans Day also taking place on November 11, I thought this would be a fitting opportunity to recognize some of the Korean adoptees who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
I have several Korean adoptee friends who are veterans, and I've always appreciated the opportunity to learn about their experiences. Military service also has a special place in my own family history. In fact, some of my fondest memories of the veterans in my family have very little to do with their service.
Remembering the Veterans in Our Lives
Veterans Day always reminds me of my grandfather and my Uncle Richard. Both served in the military, but growing up, I knew them simply as my grandfather and my uncle. Their service was an important part of their lives, but my memories of them are mostly about the time we spent together as a family.
One of the keepsakes I have is the American flag that was presented to our family during my grandfather's funeral. I was fortunate enough to receive that flag, and it's something I've treasured ever since. Although the flag honors his military service, it also reminds me of my grandfather and what he meant to our family.
I also have many fond memories of my Uncle Richard. When I was a child, I sometimes accompanied him to the VA hospital in Saginaw, Michigan, for his dialysis treatments. We would make the drive from Flint, and I remember thinking that Saginaw must have been incredibly far away because it seemed to take forever to get there. Of course, the same drive doesn't seem nearly as long to me today. I remember spending hours in the hospital waiting room, but I also remember looking forward to stopping at McDonald's for chicken nuggets on the way home.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of the Saturday nights when my Uncle Richard and Aunt Renee would come over to our house. We would spend the evening playing cards or board games, and I always looked forward to their visits. Those evenings may not have seemed particularly special at the time, but they've become some of the memories I treasure most. I was only a child when I spent much of that time with Uncle Richard, so I never really thought about what it meant that he was a veteran. He was just Uncle Richard, someone who came over to play games and occasionally took me along on trips to Saginaw.
Veterans Day gives me an opportunity to appreciate another part of his life while remembering the person I knew. The veterans we honor are also the people who have shared so many ordinary moments with us. Their military service deserves recognition, but so do the lives they've lived and the relationships they've built along the way.
Saluting Korean Adoptees Who Have Served
Second Lt. Jonathan Taylor with Minhae Kim who helped him retrace his biological family.
There are also many veterans within the Korean adoptee community, including some whose military service has unexpectedly brought them closer to their Korean roots.
One such story is that of Jonathan Taylor, who was adopted from South Korea at age five and raised in Massachusetts. After joining the U.S. Army through ROTC, he eventually served as an officer in Korea. With the help of a Korean family who took an interest in his background, Jonathan was able to reconnect with his birth mother. His reunion brought both meaningful experiences and complicated emotions, reminding us that reconnecting with our past doesn't always provide the answers we might expect.
His experience was featured in a 2015 article published by the U.S. Army titled Overseas Adoption: An Army Officer's Lifelong Journey to Finding Family.
Another remarkable story involves Man H. Watson, a Korean-American adoptee who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. In 2022, he traveled to South Korea to participate in a joint military training exercise. During his visit, fellow service members and South Korean authorities helped him locate his younger sister after 17 years of separation. The siblings had been adopted together by an American family in 1997, but they lost contact after his sister returned to Korea in 2005.
His reunion was reported by Yonhap News Agency in an article titled U.S. Navy Reservist Reunites With Sister After 17 Years of Separation.
These are just two examples of Korean adoptees whose lives have included military service. Their stories are quite different, but both remind me of the many experiences and connections that exist within our community. I'm sure there are countless other Korean adoptee veterans whose stories haven't received the same public attention, including some of our own friends and family members.
This Veterans Day, I'd like to extend a special thank you to all Korean adoptees who have served in the military, as well as the veterans among our families and friends. Thank you for your service.
National Adoptee Awareness Month
November is officially recognized as National Adoption Month, but you may have noticed that I'm calling it National Adoptee Awareness Month. That distinction is intentional.
Peter Møller, left, Boonyoung Han, second from left, co-founders of the Danish Korea Rights Group, and adoptee Yooree Kim, second from right, attend a press conference at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Seoul, South Korea, on March 26, 2025.
For many years, much of the public conversation about adoption has focused on adoptive parents and the process of bringing children into families. While those perspectives have their place, the experiences of adoptees themselves haven't always received the same attention. Adoption is often presented as the beginning of a new family, but it's important to remember that an adoptee already has a history before joining that family. That history doesn't simply disappear because an adoption takes place.
The distinction has become especially meaningful as more information has emerged about historical international adoption practices in South Korea. Investigations have documented serious irregularities involving adoption records and the circumstances under which some children were sent overseas. Some adoptees have discovered that information they believed to be true about their childhood was inaccurate or falsified. Others have learned that members of their birth families spent years trying to find them.
South Korea's third Truth and Reconciliation Commission, often referred to as TRC3, began its work earlier this year. Korean adoptees and their families have continued submitting requests for investigations into past overseas adoption practices. These efforts represent an important opportunity for adoptees to seek answers about their own histories and for the people and institutions involved to be held accountable where wrongdoing is established.
You can read more about these ongoing efforts in this Korea JoongAng Daily article about adoptees seeking new investigations here.
These developments also remind me why the language used during National Adoptee Awareness Month matters. I've seen adoption promotions that emphasize reduced fees or waived application costs. Such promotions may be intended to encourage prospective parents, but they can also reinforce the perception of adoption as a financial transaction. For adoptees who have spent years questioning the circumstances of their own adoptions, these messages may be especially difficult to see. Adoption involves real people and lifelong relationships, not simply the completion of a process or a financial transaction.
Adoptees also have very different feelings about their experiences. Some have positive relationships with their adoptive families and feel comfortable with the circumstances of their adoption. Others may have complicated feelings about their past that are difficult to put into words. Many adoptees may also feel both appreciation and disappointment when reflecting on their experiences.
My own experiences have given me plenty to appreciate, but there are also things about my adoption that I find disappointing and questions that may never be answered. I don't necessarily approach those questions with anger, but that doesn't make them any less important to me. This is why I believe National Adoptee Awareness Month should be about more than simply celebrating adoption — it should also provide an opportunity to recognize the experiences of adoptees throughout their lives and make room for conversations that aren't always easy. No single perspective can represent every adoptee's experience, but every adoptee deserves to have their experiences taken seriously and their voice heard.
Calendar of Events
November 13 – Duo Dolce, featuring cellist Kristen Yeon-Ji Yun and pianist Phoenix Park-Kim, will present American Mosaic: 250 Years of Music for Cello & Piano at 8 PM at McIntosh Theatre at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. The concert celebrates 250 years of American music with works by George Gershwin, Amy Beach, and Aaron Copland, alongside music influenced by immigrant and multicultural experiences. Read more here.
November 13–14 – VOICES will host its first Virtual BIPOC Adoptee Convening, Honoring Our Stories, Building Our Future, in recognition of National Adoptee Awareness Month. This two-day global gathering will feature 12 BIPOC adoptee-led workshops focused on storytelling, community building, and wellness, along with opportunities for connection and emotional support. The free-to-attend virtual event is open to BIPOC adults ages 18 and older with lived experiences of adoption, foster care, or legal guardianship, as well as their descendants. Registration and additional information here.
November 14 – The Association of Korean Adoptees–Los Angeles (AKA-LA) will host a traditional Korean Minhwa folk painting class at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA) from 10 AM to 1 PM, preceded by a mini-tour at 9:30 AM. Participants will learn about Korean folk painting and create their own hanji fan artwork. No painting experience is necessary. Adoptees, descendants of Korean adoptees (DoKADs), and family members are welcome. Ages 10 and older are recommended. Registration is $30 per person, with only 25 spots available. RSVP by November 9. Read more here.
November 14 – The Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKASF) will host its KADs'Giving Potluck from 3–7 PM at the Golden Gate Masonic Temple in San Francisco, CA. Adoptees, partners, and family members of all ages are invited to enjoy Korean food, games, and an afternoon of community connection. Korean main dishes and beverages will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to bring a favorite dish or snack to share. The event is free, and additional adult beverages are BYOB. RSVP here by November 11.
November 30 – The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2027 Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN) Conference is November 30. The conference, themed RECLAMATION, will take place June 25–27, 2027, in Denver, CO, with a focus on centering adoptee voices and experiences. Interested presenters can review the Call for Proposals and submission details at the website below. Additional information about registration and hotel accommodations will be available after the new year. Read more here.
December 12 – Korean Adoptees of Chicago (KATCH) will host its annual Holiday Karaoke Party from 8 PM to midnight at TAK Korean Bistro & Karaoke in Chicago, IL. Adoptees, friends, and family ages 21 and older are invited to enjoy karaoke and socialize. Registration includes appetizers and access to a reserved karaoke room, with a cash bar available. RSVP here by December 10.
May 29, 2027 – KaptureCon 2027 will take place in Washington, D.C., bringing together K-pop fans for a celebration of Korean music and culture. The convention will feature live performances, a K-pop dance competition, a dance master class, and opportunities to connect with fellow fans. Additional programming and special guests will be announced closer to the event. Read more here.
A Small Way to Make a Difference This Month
With National Adoptee Awareness Month and Veterans Day both taking place in November, I've been thinking about how we recognize the people who are part of our lives. It's possible to know someone for years without knowing much about the experiences that have shaped them. That doesn't necessarily mean anything is missing from the relationship. Not everyone wants to discuss their personal history, and no one should feel obligated to share it.
Sometimes the best way to honor someone's experiences is simply to take the time to get to know more of their story. That doesn't mean asking personal questions or encouraging someone to revisit difficult memories. Being present and taking an interest in someone's life can be just as meaningful, especially when we're willing to listen if they choose to share something about themselves.
My childhood memories of Uncle Richard are a good reminder of that. I didn't need to know about his military service to appreciate spending time with him. Those Saturday nights playing games and the seemingly endless drives to Saginaw are memories I'll always treasure.
