Research trip to Korea 2025

Our Activist YangJu Adoptee Archive Project on a Work and Networking Trip to Korea

We’ve traveled to Korea. Not just to visit a country many of us have roots in – but to build bridges. Between people, between institutions, and between memories.

YangJu Adoptee Archive is a project created by and for adoptees connected to the city of Dongducheon. Our goal is to collect, document, and share stories that are otherwise at risk of being lost. On this journey, we’re taking the next step: sharing our vision with those who can help make the project bigger – and stronger.

A Pocket-Sized Introduction

As part of the trip, we’ve designed a small fold-out booklet – a brief introduction to what the YangJu Adoptee Archive is all about. It explains our method, our hopes, and the activist foundation: archiving memories with respect, sensitivity, and collaboration.

What We’re Doing in Korea

Over the course of 21 intense days, we’ve planned 26 meetings with:

• Public agencies and local politicians
• Researchers and NGOs
• Journalists, archivists, and activists
• And of course: other adoptees

We’re pitching the idea for an upcoming campaign with a photo exhibition, events, and conversation salons – and using the meetings to test our vision, get honest feedback, and open up new collaborations.

We’re primarily in Seoul and Dongducheon – the city where the project originates, and where many adoptees’ stories begin.

Closely Followed – Both Professionally and Personally

Along the way, we’re being followed by a documentary team from KBS, Korea’s equivalent of DR. They aim to document both the development of the project and the personal stories behind it. It’s a big deal – and a bit vulnerable – but also an opportunity to add nuance to adoption narratives and raise awareness of why archival work is also activism.

Want to follow along with the journey, see photos from our meetings, and learn more about how archival work can drive change?
Follow us here on the blog and on our social media – we’ll be sharing ongoing updates, reflections, and glimpses of daily life in Korea.

#YangJuAdopteeArchive #ArchiveActivism #AdoptionMemories #Dongducheon #BridgeBuilding