Comments on: A short history of Korean overseas adoption http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:32:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33327 Sonagi Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:02:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33327 You mean Susan Brink's Arirang was based on a true story? You mean Susan Brink’s Arirang was based on a true story?

]]> By: random guy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33312 random guy Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:42:31 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33312 I've been meaning to comment, but I was waiting to hear back from some adopted friends in Norway to help answer some questions you had Robert. In terms of per capita adoption, adoption is a 'Scandinavian thing.' Norway leads with 14.6 per 100k, followed by Denmark (11.8) and Sweden (10.4). Partially, the low birth rate coupled with the lack of availability of domestic adoptions created the Norwegian transnational adoption phenomenon. 1% of Norway's annual 'birthrate' consists of adopted kids. Along with the social activism which is promoted within the Lutheran church it seems plausible these social mores are shared with the Norwegian/Scandinavian populace in Minnesota. As far as 'why Korean babies'... with the ROK government eager to ship out as many mixed babies as possible post 1954 (and once they ran out of those), the babies out of wedlock and the ones with physical and mental handicaps... along with the work by the Holt foundation, there was a plethora of Korean babies to pick from. All told I have about 15 adopted Korean/Scandinavian friends. I think the basic story is their adopted parents wanted to have kids, couldn't, saw the poor Korean kids and adopted one with the aid of the expedient adoption laws that arose around 1954 or so in Korea. I’ve been meaning to comment, but I was waiting to hear back from some adopted friends in Norway to help answer some questions you had Robert. In terms of per capita adoption, adoption is a ‘Scandinavian thing.’ Norway leads with 14.6 per 100k, followed by Denmark (11.8) and Sweden (10.4). Partially, the low birth rate coupled with the lack of availability of domestic adoptions created the Norwegian transnational adoption phenomenon. 1% of Norway’s annual ‘birthrate’ consists of adopted kids. Along with the social activism which is promoted within the Lutheran church it seems plausible these social mores are shared with the Norwegian/Scandinavian populace in Minnesota. As far as ‘why Korean babies’… with the ROK government eager to ship out as many mixed babies as possible post 1954 (and once they ran out of those), the babies out of wedlock and the ones with physical and mental handicaps… along with the work by the Holt foundation, there was a plethora of Korean babies to pick from.

All told I have about 15 adopted Korean/Scandinavian friends. I think the basic story is their adopted parents wanted to have kids, couldn’t, saw the poor Korean kids and adopted one with the aid of the expedient adoption laws that arose around 1954 or so in Korea.

]]> By: Gillian http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33194 Gillian Sat, 15 Apr 2006 20:29:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33194 Well, I was raised in Minnesota, yes, I am Scandinavian, and they (in Minnesota) do have an unusual outlook on social issues. I am not sure that that makes them good parents, though. As far as low sperm counts, I don't know. My father and his parents migrated from Norway when he was a child, and I am the youngest of 7...... Well, I was raised in Minnesota, yes, I am Scandinavian, and they (in Minnesota) do have an unusual outlook on social issues. I am not sure that that makes them good parents, though. As far as low sperm counts, I don’t know. My father and his parents migrated from Norway when he was a child, and I am the youngest of 7……

]]> By: Sambek_ZX http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33133 Sambek_ZX Fri, 14 Apr 2006 18:23:18 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33133 tlqtoRI: I nearly spit my coke out when I read your comment. I don't know if you meant what was implied by your statement, but thanks for the laugh anyway. tlqtoRI:

I nearly spit my coke out when I read your comment. I don’t know if you meant what was implied by your statement, but thanks for the laugh anyway.

]]> By: baker http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33101 baker Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:11:18 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33101 i lived in sweden and denmark for a few years and i dont recall any extraordinary ideas about adoptions one way or the other. i lived in sweden and denmark for a few years and i dont recall any extraordinary ideas about adoptions one way or the other.

]]> By: Robert http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33085 Robert Fri, 14 Apr 2006 04:40:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33085 Yes, snow, there are a ton of Scandinavian immigrants in Minnesota, which is why I asked the question. I'm curious if there is something about the culture of Scandinavia (which, as you know, consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Minnesota) and adoptions. Yes, snow, there are a ton of Scandinavian immigrants in Minnesota, which is why I asked the question. I’m curious if there is something about the culture of Scandinavia (which, as you know, consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Minnesota) and adoptions.

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33084 snow Fri, 14 Apr 2006 04:09:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33084 Weren't there a relatively high percentage of Scandinavian immigrants to that area? In the Canadian midwest, there were pockets of Scandinavian immigrants and I remember my grandfather telling me stories of local Scandinavians. I hadn't realized that there were quite a few on the prairies. Weren’t there a relatively high percentage of Scandinavian immigrants to that area? In the Canadian midwest, there were pockets of Scandinavian immigrants and I remember my grandfather telling me stories of local Scandinavians. I hadn’t realized that there were quite a few on the prairies.

]]> By: judge judy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/04/14/a-short-history-of-korean-overseas-adoption/#comment-33079 judge judy Fri, 14 Apr 2006 03:12:28 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2713#comment-33079 that's a very interesting question re: scandinavian and minnesotan adoptions. i assume that there is in fact no direct connection except for the same cultural base. minnesota is perhaps the only place in the US that has such a strong conservative progressive dynamic wherein social work is really ingrained in most residents. the very active lutheranism also impacts a lot of the community-focused mindset. or perhaps it could just be extremely high levels of lutefisk in the diet. that’s a very interesting question re: scandinavian and minnesotan adoptions. i assume that there is in fact no direct connection except for the same cultural base. minnesota is perhaps the only place in the US that has such a strong conservative progressive dynamic wherein social work is really ingrained in most residents. the very active lutheranism also impacts a lot of the community-focused mindset. or perhaps it could just be extremely high levels of lutefisk in the diet.

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