Maite Minh Tam Jeannolin : “Transnational Adoption Trauma Impact on Adoptees’ Children”

Maite Minh Tam Jeannolin (left) and Korean-born activist kimura byol lemoine sit by the gravestones of Holt Adoption Agency founders Harry and Bertha Holt. (Maite Minh Tam Jeannolin)

As South Korea’s tumultuous history of international adoptions continues to come to light, a new wave of intergenerational trauma is emerging. The concept, originating from the field of counseling psychology, is now resonating with a generation of adoptees’ children who are grappling with the repercussions of their parents’ adoption experiences.

Empowered by a growing collective voice, the descendants of adoptees are advocating for greater awareness within their community and seeking clarity on their rights as a generation.

“Although it wasn’t myself but my parents who were adopted, their adoption story has deeply impacted me,” shared Bastiaan Flikweert, a Korean studies master’s student at Yonsei University in Seoul and the son of two Korean Dutch adoptees.

“When children would ask me why I looked different, I would simply explain that my parents were adopted,” he recalled. “Their adoption story was such an integral part of my upbringing. I didn’t even fully grasp the concept of ‘adoption’ at that time.”

Flikweert co-moderates a Facebook group dedicated to descendants of Korean adoptees. Despite its early stages, the group is experiencing rapid growth, underscoring the increasing need for a sense of community among this demographic.

Parents’ Adoptions, Children’s Reflections

Since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, an estimated 200,000 South Koreans have been sent abroad for adoption, primarily to the US and Europe, often into white households. In the post-war era, the humanitarian narrative of rescuing orphans from poverty motivated many parents to adopt Korean children, unknowing of the lasting impact it would have.

While there is now a greater understanding of the challenges adoptees face during and after the adoption process, the influence on their children has yet to be fully acknowledged.

Meeja Richards, a Korean American who was raised by a deaf Korean adoptee mother, is certain that her mother’s adoption had a profound influence on her upbringing.

“I find myself relating to many of the struggles that Korean adoptees encounter, such as the fear of abandonment and homelessness, even though I don’t have direct reasons to have those fears. This suggests that the way my mother raised me must have played a role,” shared Richards.

Through her Instagram platform, @returntojeong, Richards aims to connect with other children of Korean adoptees and mixed Koreans. (Maree Photography)

Flikweert is currently collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Oh Myo Kim, an associate professor at Boston College specializing in counseling, developmental, and educational psychology. Together, they are conducting surveys and interviews with adult children of Korean adoptees to explore themes such as identity and socialization.

A prevalent theme identified by Flikweert and Kim was a sense of “in-betweenness” among the participants.

“During our interviews, a lot of ambiguity surfaced around racial and ethnic identity, belonging within the adoption community, and the decision to search for biological roots. There’s a prevailing uncertainty about where they stand and fit into their own narrative,” explained Kim.

Korean French artist Maite Minh Tam Jeannolin, also a co-moderator of the Facebook group, has encountered various instances of feeling caught in this liminal space. Growing up in the predominantly white surroundings of the French Alps, she faced instances of racism across different facets of her life.

Even within her own family, her mixed Korean-French heritage was often a topic left unaddressed. It wasn’t until she transitioned to a more diverse environment that she recognized the peculiarity of her situation.

Claiming the Right to Roots

The disparity between Jeannolin’s yearning to explore her Korean heritage and her mother’s inclination to leave the past behind has at times caused tension between them.

Jeannolin recalled, “My mother once remarked that it was her story, not mine. I responded by saying, ‘This isn’t solely your story. While I may not experience everything you did, a part of your story, a fraction of that trauma, trickles down to me.’”

Simultaneously, she grapples with the fear that pursuing her biological family against her mother’s wishes could potentially harm her mother’s well-being and strain their relationship.

“For me, it raises questions about our rights and responsibilities as second-generation individuals, both ethically and legally,” she reflected.

Twenty-three-year-old Iwan Scheer, born and raised in the Netherlands, recently embarked on his maiden voyage to Korea. Regrettably, his father declined to accompany him. While Scheer is eager to delve into his Korean heritage, he respects his father’s stance against seeking out their Korean family.

“My father would become irate whenever I broached the topic of adoption,” Scheer recounted. “I distinctly recall his annoyance when he received a traditional hanbok as a gift at a family gathering.”

Bastiaan Flikweert and Iwan Scheer during their initial meeting in Seoul (Amber Anne Roos/The Korea Herald)

Although the reluctance of their parents to delve into their past can be frustrating for the descendants of Korean adoptees, Kim speculates that many parents do so in a bid to shield their children from their own trauma.

“Some parents are apprehensive about imposing their trauma onto their children. They wish for their children to lead unburdened lives, devoid of the struggles they faced. However, the reality is that the children are likely to be impacted by this shared history because the parents themselves have been affected,” noted the professor.

Not only do immediate family members impede the children of Korean adoptees from uncovering information about their Korean heritage, but external encounters can also pose challenges. Richards, who uses her Instagram account to engage with other children of adoptees and document her quest for family connections, recounted a particular interaction that left her unsettled.

“When I mentioned that I was searching for my grandmother, I was asked whether I had obtained my mother’s consent. While I value the importance of consent, it felt unjust and strange that I needed permission to trace my own roots,” she shared.

Emergence of a Community

With the establishment of this community, Flikweert aspires to create a sanctuary for the descendants of Korean adoptees to share their stories and alleviate feelings of isolation. Many members are actively working to raise awareness through various media platforms.

Jeannolin is gearing up to release a feature-length documentary, tentatively titled “(M)other Land,” in the autumn of 2025. Through this film, she aims to delve into her personal narrative as the child of an adoptee.

A still from Jeannolin’s documentary, “(M)other Land,” featuring her at Jeju Stone Park, shared on her Instagram account, @maite__maeum (Maite Minh Tam Jeannolin)

Kim, the psychology professor, who is herself a Korean American adoptee and a mother of two, expressed surprise at the profound impact her research revealed on the children of adoptees.

“The level of trauma that emerged during the interviews caught me off guard… it was more intense than anticipated. Each participant’s experience was unique, yet a prevailing sense of sadness permeated the conversations,” she noted.

While feedback on the community has been mixed, with some adoptees expressing uncertainty about the necessity of a community for their children, there has been an outpouring of gratitude from participants and members.

“Among all the studies I’ve conducted, this one elicited the most appreciation from participants. They expressed gratitude for recognizing their presence and shedding light on the children’s role within the narrative. Many adoptees, who had never considered the children to be part of the story in that manner, have responded positively,” shared Kim.

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