Agreed. Korea is no longer a struggling poor developing country where the young and innocent are sent off to countries around the world for the hopes of a better life. Now, the Korean government is campaigning to keep adoptions within the motherland.
And this year, top stars Lee Mi-yeon, Yun Eun-hye, Joo Ji-hoon, Kim Jung-Eun, Jang Hyuk, Park Jung-a, Lee Seung-ki, Wondergirls, Suh Kyeong-suk participated in a special photo shoot by photographer Cho Sei-hon.
The “Letter from the angels No. 5″ campaign started in 2003 to encourage adoptions within the country.
The star studded black n’ white photos will be displayed at the Insa Art Center (Gana Art Gallery) in Insa-dong, Seoul from December 12 to 19th, 2007. Or, you can view more pictures at lovefund.or.kr (in Korean).
(top: Joo Ji-hoon – The best picture of the set since he looks very sad while the baby is looking at him and sucking his thumb. Cute!)
(left to right: Han Hye-jin, Jang Hyuk, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Mi-yeon, Park Jung-ah, Yoon Eun-hye)
Pop in:
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i find jang hyuk’s picture weird. hahaha! and yeh’s baby is scary. and jjh definitely looks like a flat-chested ajumma-babysitter.
personally I believe that the whole not wanting to adopt orphans and shunning them began with the Korean War when alot of the American soldiers were reproducing with the Korean women. Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics alike were mixing their “tainted” foreign blood with korean women and the “products” were unwanted…so the government decided to weede them out. This is the sad truth ladies and gentlemen. And any objectors should wake up a realize that Korea, altough still adapting, is a racist country. Im not saying that western countries like America and European countries are not, however when you look at the percentage of diversity between these countries you can see why Korea and most of Asia has such an ignorant view on “preserving the culture.” In America we are surrounded by many different races. In Korea you are surrounded by Koreans… The idea of promoting more adoption with in your own country is a brilliant idea, however if this campaign is in order to “preserve the bloodline and culture” then I find it wrong and sad. If the society shuns foreiners due to culture, then it is wrong. And if anyone objects this then look up the story of Hines Ward the American football player whose mother was shunned out of the country due to giving birth to a half black baby. Only when he is famous is he and his mother welcomed back into Korea with welcomed arms…so the question is “Korea will not accept other races unless they are succesful and high in society???” I myself am Tanzanian (African country) and my parents emmigrated to America when I was young…although they are both my parents, it was still a knew enviroment and my family has been able to preserve out culture and assimilate quite well into the american culture as well. It was hard work too! All Im saying is that you can still preserve the Korean culture in most countries today even if it the kids are sent to another country. I am totally interested in Asian culture and am trying to learn a few languages including Korean, but things like this really disapoint me and make me a little skeptical of when I travel to asia…
@ Dumpling:
Don’t mind the Metropolitan. He’s a bitter, bitter person that loves to exaggerate bad things about Korea.
@useyourf**kingbraindumbass
Your use of English and choice of words leads me to believe that you are new to the English language… not something I would expect from someone who was raised in an English speaking county (as you claim). I’ve seen this sort of thing before in forums and message-boards involving subjects like this. I’m guessing you are in fact a Korean nationalist attempting to promote propaganda?
Best Regards.
oh.many ppl r saying Joo Ji Hoon is so charming
me too. i hv seen all pic but JJH is tha best. His eyes..the way he holds the baby..the baby who look up to him..it is an absolute great foto.I have also read the report written by the photographter about JJH. he said how much he admire JJH after this photo shoot 
so happy to hear good news about my Ji Hoon.
Heehe, Dumpling, sf, Mila , PISSED ADOPTEE… wanna write my O Ambassador Report? Lol, I wish I was as motivated as you guys were when typing this so that I could get my reports done. Seriously, how do you do it? Is there this flame… that… that bursts (at the bottom of your stomach) when you read other’s posts and find it kind of insulting or mean? Is there? Well if there is, I want that spark.
Okay, enough of my (kinda) out of topic ramblings and in my in topic ramblings.
Before I start, I just want to state this: JOO JI HOON, I LOVE YOU! MARRY ME! (jk, please don’t)
Okay, here I go….
Anyway–
Hehee, I forget.
–
I’m not dumb. I don’t want to join this argument cuz I find it not in my favor to do so. I really think its very time consuming to type these essay long posts and somewhat troublesome to reply and ram your thoughts to every other person who disagrees with you.
Leave it at that. They don’t feel what you’re feeling, then let it go.
At least you tried.
@useyourf**kingbraindumbass
lol
Don’t wanna sound so meanish, but your choice of words were hilarious. But hopefully you’re okay.
yeah.
NO REALLY,
MARRY ME JOO JI HOON!!!!
^^
cute!!!
the kids are the best thing in these pictures :p
they are so adorable <3
God bless them!
Thanks to everyone who left comments, be they short or long. People who are considering adoption are reading your thoughts and mulling attitudes over. It helps to know that no matter what one does someone is going to be angry. It is actually kind of freeing. The children are the bottom line; they are the priority here. I wish for them beautiful lives whether adopted in Korea or elsewhere. Also, if Korea doesn’t already have a program that allows for ongoing contact with the original mom and/or dad, I sorely wish they would come up with one. It would be so helpful for children (and their original parents!) to be able to keep in touch if desired. It seems like the whole and beautiful thing to do. It seems the more responsible, honorable and loving thing to do in respect to all members of the triad. Anyway, thanks for many things to ponder.
Did you all know that ACTUALLY the South Korean government IS trying to stop all foreign adoption by 2012? Read the NY Times article that wrote about it on Oct. 10 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/world/asia/09adopt.html?_r=2&ei=5070&emc=eta1&pagewanted=print
A very interesting article…I remember going to Korea with other adoptee families and an absolute stranger walked up to me and said “shameful” and wouldn’t look at me. It makes me angry because I’m wayyy better off in the U.S. than I would have if I’d stayed in my orphanage in S. Korea. I agree with the Holt International rep. about it being good that the gov. offers more incentives and continues to do campaigning around the issue, BUT there would be a lot of children who’s last hope for a future where they have the opportunity to reach their potential will be shattered. Think of how many children are the product of a “shameful” acts and left at hospitals, churches, police stations, orphanages, left in market places? There are way too many kids and not enough willing families in Korea to give them a loving home. So then what? Is that it? Do we shut out their chance for a better life even if the adoptive parents aren’t South Korean? If the government is truly thinking about the welfare of these children, they must consider giving these children all the chance to become successful adults- their image to not only the international community, but to the adoptee community depends on it.
I really love Joo Ji Hoon.. He is so Sexy! Hope u could be able to come here in manila (Philippines). We are all dying to see you. I am planning to fly to Seoul just to see what is in South Korea that all Filipinos are all hooked up to the Korean Stars…And i hope when i go there i could be able to see you… My Crown Prince.. To satisfy my addiction with Goong & other koreanovelas i even enrolled myself to a Korean School so i could understand what are the cast were saying.I kept on watching Goong/Princess Hours on DVD or sometimes in Youtube. And That Koreanovela seen in Manila twice. Yes, they aired it twice. First One is on a Primetime (Late Evening)30 minutes during weekdays.And the 2nd one was in the morning 1-hour every weekends. What i heard Goong will have had supposedly a sequel last quarter of 2007. But it’s almost end of 2008 but still no avail of Goong Sequel…
Anybody here… who can help me to join Joo Ji Hoon’s Fans Club? Thanks in advance