DID YOU KNOW? - Minnesota has the most Korean adoptees in the world - There are more than 13,000 Korean adoptees in Minnesota - There are more than 130,000 Korean adoptees in the U.S. - Worldwide: 200,000

**NOPAK- Network of Professional Adopted Koreans

We are a progressive group of adopted Koreans who want to express a positive message of our experiences. We are generally people who are well educated and successful. With our unique challenges we have become very resourceful and resilient people.

NoPAK is working on several messages to the Korean people and else where. Adopted Koreans have been coming to the US, Europe, and Australia for about fifty years. We have been put into these various countries and have learned their languages and ways of life. The kids grew up and became the people of their adopted societies. We have so successfully blended into the melting pots that we are difficult to distinguish as Koreans especially when our names are John, Lisa, Matt, Lee.....we have blended into the walls. No other country in the world has been sending kids to other nations for such a long time.

What most people don't realize is that we were seeded and are ready to be cultivated. We are rich with the multitudes of cultural, economic, and political ways of many different nations. As a group the knowledge and experience of adopted Koreans could be extremely valuable for any nation. As Korea strives to be more successful in the world market, we could be a key to their greater success.

NoPAK wants to participate in the future of Korea. We want to send this positive message to say we are an undiscovered natural resource to the Korean people. As you may know, our event in April with the Korean Cultural Center will be an exercise is this philosophy. We have been waiting for this opportunity to prove ourselves. We are hoping that this event will be the gateway to much bigger and greater things.

To this day, many people think that adopted Koreans are a bunch of lost and unfortunate people but that just isn't the case anymore. In fact, this belief only burdens us and proceeds us in any social, economic, and political relationships. One of our projects for next year is to produce a 30 second commercial showing our members as kids then as adults. The photos and videos (like you showed) would be from their black and white adoption papers to colorful videos of them in their business attire working in companies like Boeing, GM, NorthWest/Delta Airlines, and other world class companies. KBS has already agreed to air the commercial as public message. I am currently working on getting permission from MBC, SBS and YTN.

Second generation Koreans face similar challenges as adopted Koreans. Many of us have lost our native tongues and have challenges being Korean. Instead of crying in the same bowl of soup, we want to help create a greater network and advance eachother. We can help eachother bridge the gaps where we as one can not cross.

John Perry
President
NoPAK.org

**AK Connection & AdopSource

AK Connection is Adopted Korean Connection. AK Connection is a non-profit group in Minnesota ran by adult adoptees for adult adoptees. Our mission is to be a resource for adult Korean adoptees by providing information and building a supportive communityIt is our goal to help direct, lead and serve adoptees to the right path in finding out about his or her identity.

In case if you are interested, AdopSource's website is http://www.adopsource.org/