Korean and Adoption Links of Interest

News from Korea

• Korean, Asian and Other Multicultural Online Catalogs

• Print and Online Magazines

• Adoption-Related Gifts

• Adoption-Related Sites, Organizations

• Korean Culture and Society

• US Government

• Travel-Related

• For Adoptees

• Adoptive Family Homepages

KOREAN, ASIAN & OTHER MULTICULTURAL ONLINE CATALOGS:

• iMeltingPot.com - THE place to turn for one-stop-shopping for the largest available selection of gifts and products that reflect our diversity. 
• Hanboks and More - another new site filled with hanboks and other Korean cultural gifts and resources
• Korean Arts - stunning Korean arts and crafts, excellent celadon collection!
• Mandy's Moon - Wonderful selection of Asian ornaments, magnets, figurines, wall hangings and more. Utterly charming!
• Chosen Children Doll Company - beautifully rendered ethnic dolls by an adoptive mom of a little girl from India. A great find!
• Ethnic Korean Raggedy Anns - a wonderful collection of ethnic "Raggedy Anns and Andys" in native costumes. Definitely worth a look if you love dolls.
• ClickAsia - wonderful site highlighting the work of Korean artisans. Great prices, too.
• Heroines in History - Heroines in History is a division of Victory Press, a publisher of culturally and historically accurate metaphysical and multicultural books and gifts.
• America's Stir Fry - Multicultural publishers on a wide range of topics
• Things Asian - emphasis on Vietnam
• HeartandSeoul: Adoption-oriented products for parents of Asian children. Plus a portion of your purchase goes to help defray the adoption costs of worthy families.
• Making Friends - A wonderful resource for school and other children-related projects. Lots of multicultural approaches to holidays and more. This site is a definite must!
• Shens.com Books and Supplies: A marvelous, searchable online catalog of Asian-oriented books and more. Excellent listing of Korean culture, fiction, and non-fiction for children and adults. Excellent!
• Multicultural Kids -- Multicultural resources for young children, parents and teachers. No website yet, call for catalog at 1-800-711-2321. Great resource!
• Asia for Kids Catalog: Rich with books, videos, dolls, and more. A terrific resource for teachers and parents -- even has hanboks for Barbie!
• Korea Connection presents Cultural Keepsakes: Dolls, jewelry, and more with emphasis on Korean/Chinese offerings.
• Celebrate the Child: Cultural and adoption-related books, music, and more.
• Asian American Books for All Ages: This catalog is produced by Asian American Curriculum Projects, Inc. Heavy on the educational from preschool through high school level. Worthwhile!

PRINT & ONLINE MAGAZINES:

• Adoption Today Magazine: This bimonthly offers excellent information for adoptive families. Strong Asian orientation.
• Adoptive Families Magazine: Flagship quarterly of Adoptive Families of America. I get this, too.
• Korean Quarterly: Informative and thought-provoking nonprofit publication written for all members of the Korean-American community, including Korean adoptees and their adoptive families. Have something to share? They're looking for articles!

ADOPTION-RELATED GIFT ITEMS

• AdoptShoppeBooks - popular international adoption books, including many books specific to Korea and China adoptions, at mostly discounted prices. (Another Roberta adoption site.)
   
• AdoptShoppe: Unique International Adoption Gifts and Resources - you'll find practical tools and truly beautiful commemorative gifts that speak to the heart of the adoption experience. (Another Roberta adoption site.)

ADOPTION-ORIENTED SITES & ORGANIZATIONS & SERVICES:

• Inter-National Adoption Alliance - A national adoption support/advocacy organization. (Separately we each have a story to tell, together we can make our voices heard.)
• Korean Focus for Adoptive Families - Middle TN Chapter
• Adoptions International - Parent support, information and counseling service for Intercountry adoption in Western Australia.
• Adopt-Central - Online waiting parent registry, information and support for all members of the triad, chats, message boards including available situations both domestic and international
• Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea - This site is devoted to encouraging domestic adoption within Korea. Offers a unique and valuable counterpoint and perspective.
• Stars of David - A nonprofit information and support network for Jewish and partly Jewish adoptive families of all sizes, ages, and origins.
• Adoptive Families of Central Oklahoma (APCO) - Regional info.
• Korean Focus for Adoptive Families/Tennessee - Regional info.
• The Assistant Stork: information for Vital Records and Secretaries of State, China Consulates, her DC Courier Service, links for basic and country specific adoptions.
• Child of My Dreams: A solid informational site on both infertility and general adoption topics. Worth a good look.
• Korean Focus for Adoptive Families (National): The name says it all. Excellent info.
• The Joint Council on International Children's Services: oldest affiliation of licensed, not-for-profit agencies handling international adoptions.
• Celebrate Adoption, Inc.: MD-based organization devoted to making the image of adoption more positive.
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - more focused on domestic adoption, but still an excellent source of general information.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY:

• Korean Online - a terrific compilation site of Korean culture, history, and much more - with an online Korean-English, English-Korean dictionary!
• Teen Korea - excellent site on culture and language for teens and others!
• Korean Information Gate - wonderful portal site for all things Korean
• Kimchi Club: Aussie based site - great info source of things Korean 
• Life in Korea: Well organized site depicts a full range of Korean life and activities. Worth a look and a bookmark - Tol - First Birthday - great info!
• Korea Insights: A beautiful site depicting the full range of Korean culture and art.
• Friends of Korea: Composed of first and second generation Korean Americans, adult Korean born adoptees, and adoptive parents, this organization promotes greater awareness and appreciation of Korean heritage in the US.
• The Korea Society: Elegantly designed site about Korea. Definitely worth a look.
• Coalition for Asian-American Children & Families -- NYC-based, definitely worth your time.

 

CULTURE/TOURISM KR Ministry of Culture and Tourism  Korean Education Network (KREN) Korean Overseas Culture & Information Service  Korea National Tourism Office KNTO On-Line Commercial Website National Museum of Korea National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea The National Library of Korea Korea Foundation (KR) Korean Study Net Cultural Heritage of Korea Culture and Arts foundation SHOPPING NamDaeMun Sijang(Market)  DongDaeMun Sijang(Market)

PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA The Korea Herald The Korea Times  Korea Economic Weekly Seoul Shinmun Chosun Ilbo Hankook Ilbo Dong-A Ilbo Hankyoreh Shinmun Yonhap News Agency Pusan Ilbo Kwangju Shinmun TaejonIlbo Arirang TV(Foreign Language TV)  KBS(Korean Broadcasting System)  SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System)  YTN(Yonhap Television News)  CUISINE Korean Cooking Shop

GOVERNMENT: You should also check these sites from time to time:

• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service)
• Internal Revenue Service
• US State Department - International Adoption
• Social Security Administration

TRAVEL-RELATED:

• ONANDA Currency Converters: What's the Korean won (or any other foreign currency for that matter) worth? Get the whole story right here!
• Adoptive Family Travel - The Ties Program - Complete information on adoption homeland tours and specialized travel services for adoptive families. Experienced and highly regarded tour operators in the adoption community - focusing on Asian and Central/South America.
• Lonely Planet-South Korea: A wonderful traveler's site that encompasses the world. A little "cheeky", too!
• Korean Homestay 1 and Korean Homestay 2: Looking for a less expensive, more "authentic" Korean alternative to hotels? Korean homestays can provide a memorable experience for travelers. Check out these sites for more info!
• Kimpo International Airport 
• Korean Air 
• Asiana Airlines
• Seoul Subway : 
• Korean National Railroad 

ADOPTEE-ORIENTED:
Because it's not too early to consider the full range of the joys and challenges
 of transracial adoption, for you and your adopted children,
you might want to take a peek at these sites, too

Also see the For Adoptees page

• LOSS AND RECLAIMED LIVES: CULTURAL IDENTITY AND PLACE IN KOREAN-AMERICAN INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTEES - this is a graduate thesis written by Dani Issac Meier that is thoughtful and though-provoking. Do take the time to read this important study.
• Korea Tour - Land of the Morning Calm - a thoughtful site from a Korean-Danish adoptee.
• Korean American Adoptee Family Network: This new organization seeks to network groups and individuals related to Korean adoptions, and will work closely with its members, the Korean American community, and the Korean government to promote awareness of Korean adoption issues and develop programs of benefit to both the adoption and Korean communities.
• a.k.a.(also known as): Begun by adult adopted Koreans, this organization provides an important sense of community for intercountry adoptees and people of mixed-racial and cultural heritage.
• Korean American Adoptees Page: Filled with articles, stories, poetry, and other related links.
• Voices from the Borderlands/Transracial Adoptee Links: Has some duplication from previous listing, but definitely worth a look
• WWW Transracial Adoption/Adoptee Links: Numerous links. Settle in for lots of reading!
• International/Transracial Links, Korea: Specific links to Korean/American Adoptee links.
• Association of Korean Adoptees, Southern California (AKA-SoCal)

ADOPTIVE FAMILY HOMEPAGES

• http://home1.gte.net/seeleyjh/Mike.htm
• http://home1.gte.net/seeleyjh/index.htm

This list is by no means complete, but it represents other learning opportunities for your adoption journey. I'll be adding more as I continue the journey, as well. And if you have a link you like, drop me a line and I'll be happy to add it!