About this girl…
In her first life, Suh Young Sook (name assigned her by an institution) became a Korean foundling.
In her second life, Suki (misinterpreted Korean nick-name) was adopted to America by a troubled and dysfunctional family, which she traded in to become a child bride and mother of two. Later as a single mom, welfare mom, jack of all trades, university graduate, then restless chameleon, she explored the ideas of beauty, meaning, and existence at every reinvention.
In her third life, Leanne (because Koreans prefer her name to sound foreign) has relocated to her native country to measure what she lost, what she gained, and to explore the profound impact adoption has had not only on her, but all other intercountry transracial adoptees and the Korean nation.
At this juncture, Girl #4708 is an investigator uncovering many truths that can only be revealed by the discomfort of culture shock. Always a feminist, she is becoming aware of the need for advocacy for unwed mothers and has learned a great deal about the cycle of adoption and how it is a symptom of larger social pathologies and a global mind-set of colonization between the privileged and the defeated. By living in Korea’s oppressive Confuscian society, she has come to believe the international adoption solution in Korea contributes to arresting development of social services which preserve existing family structures.
Girl #4708 is beginning to understand the society she was sent from, the realities of the adjummas who sent their children away for a better life, the awe inspiring economic development, the many centuries of culture behind it, and the realities of women and mothers here today. None of it is so black and white, and she wants to share that with the rest of the world, that adoption is radical surgery and its efficacy should be questioned and be resorted to only when there are absolutely no other options. She also wants to assist those who have already adopted in understanding how profound the dichotomy between loss and gain can be, and the schizm between the adoptee’s public family life and inner private feelings.
Girl #4708 is seeking the beginning of her story, and to know her real name and birth date. As she uncovers the stories and gets closer to the truth, she is disturbed and lonely, but happier than she’s ever been.
Readers may contact me personally here
Holt adoption baby 
We hear a lot in the media about celebrities adopting Asian babies, adoptive parents who adopt these babies, and most recently about trafficking of children through adoption. But, we rarely hear from those Asian adoptees. Read what Asian adoptees have to say about adoption and trafficking in this month’s issue of Conducive. Three adoptee authored articles are online now and two more are coming this month.
Here are the links:
http://www.conducivemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:transnational-adoption-and-the-financialization-of-everything4569&catid=38:innovative-thinking&Itemid=61
http://www.conducivemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81:international-adoption-and-the-fight-for-human-rights&catid=37:critical-thinking&Itemid=62
http://www.conducivemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:trading-in-babies&catid=37:critical-thinking&Itemid=62
Sincerely,
Brielle Nikaido
Associate Editor/Media Director
Conducive
Conducivemag.com
bnikaido@conducivemag.com
Brielle Nikaido
August 17, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I have been exploring the possibility of adding to my family through international adoption for almost 2 years. We have 2 bio sons and our goal was humanitarian–yes, to save a child. We planned on adopting from the birth-country of my grandfather in Eastern Europe. We were within inches of filling out the application when I just got a strange gut feeling. Something was wrong with international adoption. Would I really be saving a child? I explored these issues and my own motivations and today found this website. I believe that I am meant to impact the life of a child not born biologically from me. But I need to be on the right path to find this child. My husband is not interested in domestic, open adoption and I do not think I am going to win that argument. I now believe that this is a better path. To find a child here in this country who knows of his or her origins and won’t have to go through life questioning. If my husband can’t change gears and embrace the domestic option, I think I am going to look into a mentoring program. I know that I can help a child who has not been given the opportunities he/she should have been given. I want to correct that wrong without creating more wrongs. I am going to throw away my international adoption application.
Gk
September 4, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this with my readers. Thank you so much for not contributing to the perpetuation of this problem. Thank you so much for helping people in the most meaningful way.
Thank you for making my life and my work worthwhile.
Suki
sukioki
September 4, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I’m an adoptee from 1960, returning to the land of my birth for the first time. I’m finding out just how impossible it would be to find birth family. They couldn’t even find my family registry to get my F4 visa. It’s crazy. I understand much of what you wrote. While I don’t agree with it all, I hope you find what you’re looking for. I’m enjoying my stay here in Seoul. Want to meet for coffee or something stronger?
Keren
Keren
April 8, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Well, your family registry is a joke, as ours are all fake. I hope they faked a new one for you!
Your outlook may change as you stay here awhile. Mine did/is. I’m no longer searching, btw. That’s a nice place to be.
I moved to the country, so I only get into Seoul occasionally on weekends and never manage to take care of everything I need to do or see everyone I want to meet! You can email me sukioki@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to try.
girl4708
April 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Born in Hawaii, adopted at 4, never met my Hawaiian mother, my adoptive do-gooder family thought they were doing the “good” thing in having an orphan to raise in their good home. But I wanted my real family, not their relatives, not their religion, not their philosophy of life. Today at 60, I’m coming into my peaceful time. I was able to gleam two years with my biological father, who everybody said was a jerk, but wasn’t. I’ve finally pieced together all the lies from the adoptive parents being nothing short of indentured servitude and 14 years of “boogie-man will get you” indoctrinations realizing I never wanted to be adopted by strangers. It wasn’t fun, it wasn’t cute. I wanted to stay in Hawaii and live my Polynesian heritage.
bobby becktold
May 8, 2010 at 4:12 am
Hi! I’m glad I came across your blog. :-) I hope you don’t mind, but I linked you from mine.
윤선
May 17, 2010 at 10:29 am
Hi, in my search for infos about unwed mothers on jeju island I have visited twice, I came across your site. Thanks!
Will you join the 3’rd gathering in Seoul, Korea this year?
You should, even hold a workshop, was my first input. This summer will be my 3’rd attending at the gathering where koreans adopted abroad, revisit korea from all over the world http://gathering.ikaa.info/en/page/425
But Im sure you heard all about it, if not, already been there and we have met without knowing… Im from Holt, Ilsan, and maybe you are to. I am really greatfull to read your project about abused adopteee. A very unheard of version of adoption. But we know caretakers can and have abused children in their care. To care and abuse as an adopting parents seemes even more horrifying to me. Difficult to cope with, taken the abandonned childrens story in regards…
Will read more, later. But thats my comment for know.
Lee Mee ja
June 22, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Hi, in my search for infos about unwed mothers on jeju island I have visited twice, I came across your site. Thanks!
Will you join the 3’rd gathering in Seoul, Korea this year?
You should, even hold a workshop, was my first input. This summer will be my 3’rd attending at the gathering where koreans adopted abroad, revisit korea from all over the world http://gathering.ikaa.info/en/page/425
But Im sure you heard all about it, if not, already been there and we have met without knowing… Im from Holt, Ilsan, and maybe you are to. I am really greatfull to read your project about abused adopteee. A very unheard of version of adoption. But we know caretakers can and have abused children in their care. To care and abuse as an adopting parents seemes even more horrifying to me. Difficult to cope with, taken the abandonned childrens story in regards…
Will read more, later. But thats my comment for now.
Lee Mee ja
June 22, 2010 at 8:13 pm
IKAA organizations do not take on the adoption industry, and therefore my contributions are not welcome there.
Accounts of the first gathering seemed amazing, but the list of workshops and seminars of late are too much like staring at your own naval for my taste. I don’t like the direction adoptee organizations have taken, that of exclusive social clubs. I feel the very fact that they need to gather indicates a more critical analysis should be taken.
There is still much work to be done on being true to ourselves and maintaining order seems to rule the day.
So I’ll just blog on my own…
girl4708
August 21, 2010 at 2:22 am
I LOVE your site. I found it when I was looking for American states with open adoption laws and the relationship to human trafficking. I may not be ready to share my whole story, but it would AMAZE people what goes on behind closed doors! I was abused by a well-connected group of people who then, basically, bred me and (possibly) kidnapped 4 girls and a boy from me. Prostitution was ongoing from 3 yrs of age, with extreme physical, psychological and sexual abuse before that.
There are days when I cannot STAND to be amongst the ignorance of American society, where they praise and revere doctors, priests, lawyers, teachers, nurses and social workers. I was passed around “in plain sight”. And yet no one will come forward to help me, speak for me. You are a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
D. Johnson
December 11, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Dear D. Johnson, thank you!
I can’t even fathom how you’ve held up under that scenario you touched upon. But you sound like you’ve done more than just survive and that you’ve become a great person despite it.
Maybe you’d enjoy a couple of my other projects as well – each has a different focus:
Adopted-Abused
Adoption Survivor
Thanks for taking the time to let me know my past writing/work has made a difference for someone – you! That makes it all worthwhile, you know…
girl4708
December 12, 2011 at 7:48 am
D. Johnson, the fact that you were adopted combined with your story reminds me a lot of what is referred to as trauma based mind control programming. I’m not sure whether you’ve ever heard of MK-Ultra and Monarch but what you describe sounds very much like that. Sexual based mind-control programming is RAMPANT, as is pedophilia in these circles (which goes way up to the highest levels of government). And yes, unless one takes an interest in this extremely hairy and repulsive subject, most people don’t have a bloody clue.
I cannot remember how many children disappear every year off the streets of the US and the world in particular, but it’s often those kidnapped and children from orphanages that are then ‘used’ as subjects for mind control programming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA
Suh K-H
April 30, 2012 at 11:43 am
Thanks. I had forgotten about Monarch and did not know MKULTRA used children. You can bet this is one story no one will ever break.
D. Johnson
April 30, 2012 at 1:40 pm
D. Johnson, actually people ARE waking up – would you believe it…
Thing is, I’ve known somebody personally who was subjected to severe mind control abuse (this being a generational thing as well it already starts in the womb), and those that dare speak up, ARE being heard. The military as well as Hollywood in particular are two areas that have used this kind of trauma based mind control and there is more and more awareness about this coming out.
I just give you two references to start with: The Vigilant Citizen (http://vigilantcitizen.com/) and as flawed as he may be, David Icke. There’s a lot more out there but that is a start.
Look on forums. There are a lot out there, but you sift through them, you will be surprised at the degree of awareness and knowledge that’s out there. And, as unlikely as this may seem at the moment, healing IS possible. It will take a lot of time and patience, but it’s all a process.
K-H Suh
April 30, 2012 at 5:36 pm
I have no idea why Hollywood would need trauma-based mind control when it is so much easier to play off of what many young actors bring to California with them. And I do not believe healing is possible without the same level of professional help that created this mess in the first place. There are levels of the subconscious that one cannot reach on one’s own. One cannot monitor brain chemistry nor interpret MRI results. I do not look at healing as “going back to normal”, but rather like an amputee, going forward with a permanent injury in the best way possible.
D. Johnson
May 1, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Believe me, I know and understand exactly what you’re saying. Hollywood has been at this since its very early beginnings… There are levels to this that most people have absolutely no idea about. The music industry as well is chock full of programmed puppets to be used and abused to for mass mind control purposes of the ‘viewers’ (sheeple). Most of the child actors are programmed into becoming ‘movie stars’. So, it’s not necessarily just what actors bring with them, it’s how to consciously and deliberately USE them in a very specific way (breaking down their inner resistance is only one aspect of this) in order for them to do what they are told (including engaging in sexual depravities), become a tool and a willing instrument for the Hollywood hierarchy and programmers.
And I know what you mean with the professionals having to deprogramme you (because that’s the proper term). and that levels of the un- as well as subconscious cannot be ‘reached’ with normal psychotherapy. I was not referring to ‘normal’ therapy anyway.- and, I understand your point about being ‘impaired’ for life. I really do. Because I’ve met quite a few people who’ve been subjected to severe torture and mind control abuse and child sexual abuse.
I’m not sure whether you’ve ever heard of Rick Ross (http://www.rickross.com/mind_control.html) but he’s one of the most respected and knowledgeable people out there who fight for those that have been subjected to the kind of abuse you talk about. He does represent people like you for free (his own mother died as a result of being completely brainwashed into refusing medical help). He specialises in cult mind control victims’ assistance and the right professionals that CAN help you.
Have a look and see how it feels for you. If not him, I’m sure the forum can help you navigate through this some way or another to lead you to people that are able to help you in the way you need. Rick Ross is very ‘there’ – not someone who just waffles and sort of makes a ‘hi and goodbye’ presence on the forums once a month.
Don’t give up. For your own sake.
K-H Suh
May 1, 2012 at 3:46 pm
[…] interviewed Leanne Suki Leith for an article on returning adoptees in Groove Korea. The article featured the voices of five other […]
“Adoption is just a symptom of a larger social and class injustice”: My interview with Leanne Suki Leith | The Culture Muncher
August 31, 2014 at 2:47 pm
I was adopted in 1970 from Holt in Seoul. In 2005 I began to search. I got an email back saying due to the “high volume of requests there might be delays of 60 days”. I gave up soon after never hearing from them. i just emailed another request and got the exact same email, by the same person (I am doubtful it is a real person) and told to wait another 60 days possibly. Ten years later! This time I will follow up and try to get the info I feel I am entitled to. Thanks for the blog. It is very helpful to know others have travelled this journey before me.
Una
May 26, 2015 at 12:25 am