“I’m a Korean Canadian Adoptee. I want the truth.”

After decades of believing they were orphans, several Korean Canadians have learned that their Korean parents may still be alive. CBC’s Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang helps uncover how they got here and why some say Canada ignored evidence of botched adoption paperwork.

Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang helps uncover how they got here and why some say Canada ignored evidence of botched adoption paperwork.

“500 children a month are exported for adoption with government approval. South Korea is seen to have a surplus of babies, and demand was high from the Western countries. Many ended up with well-intentioned families around the world, including here in Canada. CBC News cameras were there in 1968 when the first Korean adoptees arrived in Toronto to much fanfare. Today, those toddlers are now grown adults, many naturally curious about their lineage. But what they’re beginning to find is that every little clue abou ttheir origins maybe have been a lie.”

“As an adoptee, trying to learn about my origins, that’s a big deal. People played God.”

Kelly grew up believing she was an orphan and that both her parents had died. Despite knowing little about her past, Kelly holds on to her Korean documents. “If I don’t search now, I may never know what it feels like to have a blood relative.”

“It took 49 years for  you to get this paperwork.”

Journalist and Reporter Ki Sun Hwang helped translate the adoption paperwork.

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