OKAG: Reflections on a Government‑Funded Gathering for Korean Adoptees
by Nicky Hammond, ICAV NSW Representative and presenter at OKAG 2026
In May 2026, I travelled to Seoul to attend the Overseas Korean Adoptees Gathering (OKAG), a five‑day event hosted by the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA). Ninety‑five adoptees from fourteen countries came together at the Lotte Hotel World.
Australia was represented by Jade Yoo Soon Ae Chapman and Jacqui Kim Morris (KAIAN), Samara Kim (KADS Connect), and myself, Nicky Hammond, attending as a presenter and as a representative of InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV).
Jacqui summed it up well:
“OKAG brought together first-time returnees and adoptee leaders from many different countries. It was encouraging to hear from speakers and leaders who have been involved in adoption work for anywhere from a few years to several decades. There was a real sense of collective voice and hope for improved support services, both in our countries of residence and in our motherland.”
The first day felt like stepping into a surreal reunion. People I’d known online for years suddenly existed in three dimensions. Old Seoul friends reappeared after two decades. Faces from forums and Zoom squares became real bodies I could hug. The energy was chaotic and emotional.
Cultural differences hit quickly: three hours of back‑to‑back information sessions followed immediately by a formal opening ceremony — speeches, a message from the President Lee Jae Myung delivered by the OKA Commissioner and standing for the national anthem. It set the tone for the week: a blend of hospitality, ceremony, and a clear expectation that we would show up and participate.
The stated aim of OKAG was to strengthen global adoptee connections, deepen cultural understanding, and gather policy recommendations for the estimated 200,000 Korean adoptees worldwide. Flights and luxury accommodation were generously covered, but it was clear this was not simply a cultural tour. Whilst there was a strong emphasis on reconnecting adoptees with their homeland and fostering a sense of cultural identity, with nods at wellbeing, there was also a sense of obligation — to attend every session, contribute to policy discussions, and deliver. There was a feeling that Korea wants to invite us into their communities while also having a utilitarian interest in us… and our children. As birth rates drop, Korea is seeking human resources from the overseas Korean community — their gyopo (Koreans residing outside Korea) — and they are looking to include Korean adoptees and their children in that vision.
The program for the thirty-five first-time returnees focused on cultural activities and heritage sites, whilst the sixty adoptee organisational leaders spent most of the week in a conference room in the hotel. There was an opportunity for several adoptees, including myself, to present their work — advocacy, research, cultural programming, and mental health support. I was honoured to facilitate a breathwork workshop, sharing information and tools for regulating the nervous system to feel more grounded during what was, for many, an emotionally charged week. Each presentation was a reminder of the depth of lived experience and expertise within our community.
Among the significant developments discussed were the transfer of Korean adoptee records from individual adoption agencies to the National Centre for the Rights of the Child (NCRC), and South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s investigations into historical adoption practices. The Korean government provided presentations and an opportunity for some of the participants to visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The heart of our work, however, centred on discussions about priorities and future policy directions — an opportunity for organisational leaders to represent the needs of Korean adoptees in their home countries. The calibre of leadership in that room was extraordinary, and being surrounded by so many people doing meaningful work was awe-inspiring.
One of the Australian participants, Jade, was nominated to join the policy drafting committee — a significant undertaking. In her words:
“This was my second attendance at an OKA event, my first in the leadership stream. It was more challenging than I expected, with a lot of pressure on us as leaders and representatives of the 20+ organisations in attendance, all working toward deliverables within a short time frame. I’m proud of what I was able to contribute as a representative of Australian adoptees and of the outcomes shaped by the policy we drafted. As always, the opportunity to connect, meet and share experiences with Korean adoptees worldwide was the most meaningful part.”
The drafting committee synthesised our discussions into a set of joint recommendations submitted to OKA:
Joint Policy Recommendations by Korean Adoptee Organization Leaders
- In Adoptive Country Support Services — including sustainable funding, affordable mental health services, support from embassies and consulates, gatherings, access to language, culture, and a digital portal.
- Korea-Based Services for Overseas Korean Adoptees — an integrated support model, a single point of contact in physical space as well as online, and improved accessibility for services, bureaucracy, birth search, reunion support, translation and interpreting services, and mental health care.
- Raised Awareness Around Adoptee Experience
- Recognition and Support of DoKADs (Descendants of Korean Adoptees)
We left hopeful that the Korean government will take these recommendations seriously and continue building structures that support truth, accountability, and long-term connection — though we are watching and waiting to see action follow intention.
Samara reflected on this:
“My hope is that those most affected by adoption practices were genuinely heard as partners in the pursuit of rights, justice and dignity. The week was intensive but the solidarity and collective care of fellow adoptees and our supporters was what really sustained me. Those moments reminded me why we do this work, and why I continue to hope that our stories will make the change we deserve.”
One of the most memorable days was when all 95 participants visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) followed by Omma Poom, where statues, murals, and an installation of adoptee names honoured our community. The day was a sobering mixture of adoptees connecting and exploring amongst formal speeches and non stop photo shoots.
The most valuable parts of OKAG often happened outside the official program: conversations over meals, in hallways, on buses, and late into the night. And yes — soju, Cass, and socialising were essential. I missed out on noraebang this time, but it remains a core part of adoptee gatherings, whether you’re in the room singing or just laughing at the stories the next morning.
As someone who lived in Seoul over twenty years ago, Korea feels familiar but not like “home” in the way Australia does. Still, when adoptees gather, there is an immediate sense of belonging — a shared understanding beneath our differences. Many of us come seeking more than culture: we seek connection to our past, to our identity, to our place of origin as well as truth, records, acknowledgement, and some seek answers.
What struck me most, representing ICAV, was witnessing the calibre of leaders gathered in that room. Adoptees working tirelessly in their own countries and internationally — advocating, researching, building community, and holding space for some hard conversations. Korea is the first country to engage with intercountry adoptees at this level, and that matters. We all hope the Korean government will take seriously the recommendations we worked so hard to develop together. I also hope that Korea and Korean adoptee leaders continue to lead the way — showing that intercountry adoptees from around the world deserve to be welcomed back, to receive recognition, truth, and greater support, and that our wisdom and experience can help lift other intercountry adoptee communities too.
I left Seoul still processing. OKAG wasn’t simply a homecoming, nor was it just a PR exercise. It was something more complicated — an attempt by Korea to engage with a population whose existence reflects both loss and connection.
The story of Korean adoption is still unfolding. OKAG is one chapter, but far from the last.
