South Korean K-Pop supporters rally for those impacted by unlawful adoption practices within the nation
Revamped Rally by the BTS Community: Tracing Roots of Adoptees in South Korea
In the Spotlight: BTS Army, the fervent fanbase of the K-pop sensation BTS, has launched a distinctive campaign titled #ReuniteWithBTS. The primary objective: assistance to adoptees in South Korea uncovering their familial roots or obtaining related information.
: The Rise of K-Pop Titans BTS South Korea, home turf of BTS, was once reknowned for international adoptions, with around 140,000 South Korean children adopted abroad, spanning from 1955 to 1999 (More Details). However, in March, a commission uncovered numerous abuses (New Window) in the adoption process, including manipulated files to make children eligible for international adoption.
Fundraising in Action
The idea of a campaign bloomed, and "One in an Army", the BTS fan community's charity-oriented account followed by 230,000 people, rallied 22,000 dollars by kickstarting a fundraiser for KoRoot (New Window). Based in Seoul, this NGO advocates for the rights of adopted Koreans and was instrumental in exposing the international adoption scandals perpetuated by the South Korean government. "One in an Army" also shares the poignant stories of adopted children on their social media platforms.
"Gleaning the tales of international Korean adoptees has been a profound eye-opener" affirmed "One in an Army". Numerous adoptees underwent challenging immigration journeys, corroborates Keung Yoon Bae, a professor of Korean studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Several discovered that their adoptive parents had failed to complete the mandatory paperwork for them to gain citizenship in their adoptive nations, resulting in deportations for some adoptees as adults in the US.
BTS: Catalysts for Change
"The search for biological kinship is a daunting, devastating, and costly journey. Many adoptees lack the means to even visit their native land, let alone fund exhaustive family trace investigations", notes Mrs. Bos, 44. The vigor of the BTS fanbase's activism for this complex and emotionally demanding quest is "a beacon of hope", she considers.
The boys of BTS, with their hit song Dynamite nearing two billion views on YouTube (New Window), have already leveraged their stardom for various progressive causes. From championing the Black Lives Matter movement against racial injustice to combatting anti-Asian discrimination in the US, the band, among the world's most popular on social media, has even addressed the United Nations podium and met with the White House.
- The campaign #ReuniteWithBTS, led by the BTS Army, aims to support adoptees in South Korea who are seeking their roots or related information, just as the international K-pop sensation BTS rose to fame from their homeland.
- In the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, BTS has been vocal about progressive causes such as racial injustice, anti-Asian discrimination, and more, leveraging their massive social-media presence and even addressing the United Nations.
- In the dynamic world of pop-culture, the South Korean boys of BTS have managed to push boundaries and make waves, with their hit song Dynamite nearing two billion views on YouTube and spearheading change in various aspects.
- Aside from entertainment, the general news of international adoptions from South Korea shed light on the challenges faced by adoptees, from bureaucratic hurdles to emotional struggles, with numerous adoptees lacking the means to seek out their roots.
