THE CREATION OF KADS AS A UNIQUE ETHNICITY

Being surrounded entirely or mostly by white society, many KADs avoided other Asians in childhood and adolesence in attempt of denying own race and heritage. Many wish they had been white like their families and peers, and strongly identified with white society. Still they experienced racism.

At the same time, meeting Koreans and Korean culture as 'invisible foreigners' might have been a traumatic experience for some.

The result might be a sense of non-belonging and rootlessness. Only recently have adult KADs been able to unite and come together in order to claim a space and an identity for themselves.

Based on discrimination and feelings of alienation both in Korea and in their adoptive societies, KADs have increasingly have started seeing themselves as separate and different from both Korea and the culture of the adoptive countries.

As (visible or cultural) 'minorities' within both societies, they are dispersed around the world, but they still belong to a unique culture (with multiple subcultures included) and common identity.

The creation of the KAD culture emerged from ethnogenesis, the evolution of a new ethnic group through the blending of other cultures with subsequent creation of a new and distinct culture which is made up of more than merely the sum of its parts.

Creation of KAD ethnicity and culture started with KADs themselves reclaiming of own culture and heritage to get beyond the shame and inferiority-complex that have been forced upon them by adoptive families and cultures or by Korea.

KAD culture facilitates that own identity and heritage can be embraced with pride, without being judged by stereotypes, expectations and ideas of either Korean or adoptive society.

KADs are still a very young population. The current adult KADs are among the very first generations in creation of KAD culture, so a lot of the path has to be made while walking it.

Adult KADs are spread out across the globe, but some seem to cluster around certain geographic locations, often larger cities or areas with a high concentration of Asians/Koreans already existing. This has created geographic anchors for the KAD community.

Some KADs have come to see their identity and belonging to the KAD culture as stronger than their ties to either the birth or adoptive culture, often based on feelings of inferiority and unfair expectations from both without ever being fully accepted.

In addition to being minorities in society KADS are also minorities in their own families, making it hard for some to turn to adoptive parents for support and advice.

This has lead some KADs to themselves adopt children either from Korea or elsewhere, while others find spouses and significant others who are also KADs. Many make close friendships and ties with other KADs. This might indicate a strong need to identify with and bond through common experiences when creating their own families and social networks.

These enclaves of tightly knit KAD organizations, friends, families and couples is the foundation onto future KAD nationalism and ethnicity will build upon.