American Adoptive Parents Experience Chuseok Through Traditional Korean Food and Culture
ASIA Families members making shrimp and meat dumplings at a Chuseok event.
ASIA Families, an organization that provides programs and support for Korean adoptees and their families, recently hosted a special Chuseok celebration for adoptive parents.
The event, held on Sept. 20 at the home of an ASIA Families member in Fairfax, Virginia, brought together 26 participants for an afternoon of Korean food, culture and conversation. Guests had the opportunity to experience firsthand the traditions of Chuseok, one of Korea’s most important holidays.
The celebration featured hands-on cultural activities led by Lisa Kelly, an adoptee and professional chef. Participants worked together to make songpyeon, a traditional Korean rice cake commonly enjoyed during Chuseok, as well as Korean dumplings. They also created traditional Korean paper (hanji) cards while learning more about Korea’s cultural heritage.
ASIA Families advisor Chan-soo Kim contributed to the celebration by preparing homemade japchae and providing ingredients for the dumplings, including shrimp and meat fillings and dumpling wrappers. Rhee Brothers also supported the event by providing a selection of Korean snacks, including yakgwa, along with traditional Korean beverages through Kim.
The gathering also provided an opportunity for participants to learn about recent changes to Korea’s adoption policies. The informational session was followed by an open discussion, where adoptive parents of adult adoptees shared their personal experiences, asked questions and discussed issues they have encountered throughout their adoption journeys.
ASIA Families President Grace Song said the event was an opportunity for adoptive parents to experience Korean culture together while connecting through their shared experiences.
“Through this event, adoptive parents were able to experience Korean traditional culture together and share their diverse experiences and perspectives related to adoption,” Song said. “We plan to continue developing a variety of programs that give adoptees and adoptive families opportunities to share their experiences and build connections with one another.”
For more information about ASIA Families, contact (703) 999-4206 or info@asiafamilies.org.