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Creating a space to communicate

Driven by a passion for authentic connection, this project is to document the heartfelt journey of a Korean adoptee in pursuit of self-discovery and reconnection. Together, we create a community that embraces diversity, supports mental well-being, and fosters understanding among transracial adoptees. Join me in exploring the complexities of identity and the power of shared experiences.

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Sometimes it's the little victories. I'll take a win where I can get it.

Tell me about a win you had today or this week? Yes, not throwing hands can be a win 🤣😂

#talktome #survey #win #humpday

Birth search. Woof. Here's the thing. It's never the daydream that we hope for, right? Not saying it can't get there. I have seen families find each other and work past the trauma that led to their separation.

Then, there's the guilt and the anger and the grief. Everyone's journey is different, and there is not right or wrong answer.

As you make your way on the journey of reunification, remember that you are the main character of your own story. There's only what's best for you. In this. Right now. It's you.

#birthsearch #reunification #adoptee #korean #mentalhealth #notalone #family #chosenfamily

If you're curious about Coffee Chats, here are some of the main topics from this segment. Shout out to @wecultivate.world @wecultivate.pod for carrying this conversation. I kept getting in my own way this segment.

Discussing these topics are stressful, especially with today's climate. There is a responsibility to speak intentionally and not flippantly. While one may use dark humor from time to time in casual conversation, such expressions could be open to interpretation for mixed company.

So I got in my head and broke ALL of the public speaking rules. "Um" "like" "ya know". I hit all of the high notes. Wore them out even. My hair was a mess, and the angle was terrible. It just wasn't my day. I was off my game.

I posted it anyway. The truth is that Coffee Chats are meant to be real, raw, and authentic. Maybe not to that extent, but I'll survive. Thankfully, I wasn't the only one on screen, and Michelle was more than capable to pick up the slack. Though, I will do my best to not leave her in the trenches like that.

Find the full episodes on YouTube @deepsouthkorean

#update #coffeechat #youtube #podcast #conversation #discussion #asianamerican

For the first update of the week, I bring you the KAD Community. This is a new page on my website where you can find KAD business owners and creators.

This is just my way of giving back to the community by promoting others, so please feel free to reach out if you would like to join.

#community #kad #adoptee #korean #business #website #update

Life has been busy lately, and I have been learning and reminded of lessons along the the way. Since I've been slacking on posts, I figured I'd do a proper life recap this week.

How have you been? What are some things that you've been into? Rose and thorns. Go!

#share #sharewithme #recap #livinglife #catchingup #unplug

I definitely need to fix my camera angle, and I should pay more attention to how I look while on camera 🤣😂 but...

Come sit with Michelle and I as we have another Coffee Chat. Working with Michelle has been a gift, but our conversations are what led us here. We have intentional discussions where we talk about the hard stuff. We say the things that may be taboo so that we can explore the deeper meaning behind it. So that we can be better.

In fact, we didn't start off with collaboration in mind. It came to us naturally after long hours of friendly conversation. The original "coffee chats." It quickly became clear that we had more than just verbal exchange between new friends--we had purpose. Furthermore, we realized that there were others out there who might also feel aligned with that purpose.

So we'd like to invite you to have a seat with us and think. Feel free to send us your thoughts. Start your own conversations.

And please stick around because this is just the tip of the iceberg☺️☺️

#collab #coffeechat #coffeetalk #conversation #letstalk

We old, old now. Get your life alert ready before you drop it too low

#humor #funny #lifealert #music #millenial

This month has been full of blessings, and I have one more before the week is over!!

I'm launching a merch line. Very KAD centric. I'm starting with a few sticker designs, but I'll soon be branching out to apparel and accessories as I am able to facilitate.

I'm trying to take my time as I'm not 100% of my footing here. I've never been completely responsible for e-commerce lol. So please be patient as I make my first pancake(s) along the way, and thank you for your support in every venture I have taken the past few months 💜💜💜

Go to deepsouthkorean.com or find the link in my story 💜💜💜

#upswing #merch #deepsouthkorean #womeninbusiness #women #asian #kad

Keep going! One day you will find yourself right where you need to be.

So excited to see where this new adventure goes💜🎶

#motivation #livemusic #singer #band @_angie_b_tv @the_turnerbrothers

Do it when you're...
exhausted
unmotivated
depressed
angry
abandoned

Keep showing up for yourself. Because one day you'll stop crying, and you deserve to have a life that makes you smile.

#keepgoing #notalone #mentalhealth #chooseyourself #youcandoit

Sometimes the most random things can happen, and it can lead you to some of the most magical happenings. As I have cried through this week, then laughed through the tears, I am constantly reminded of how much I needed everything that has happened in the past few months. The past few years... I have found people who understand me without explanation, and it feels like coming home.💜💜💜

Blog post can be found at DeepSouthKorean.com or click the link in my story.

When food is comfort

#rice #jammyegg #kimchi #cucumber

It's a small win, and I'm celebrating! Today, I submitted my first commissioned Cameo.

I hope it helps, dear!

#cameo #deepsouthkorean #win #silversprings

Don't forget to come out this Friday, June 27!

#cle #livemusic #band

So many photos, I had to make a reel lol. And I'm sure I could add more. Omg. Today has been hard as I come down from the high. KAAN Family withdrawal is REAL. But I remind mysf that it's just a reminder of all the love I found this weekend.

Until next time, kids! Get your "KAD at KAAN" lines ready 🤣😂

@wearekaan
#kaan2025 #kad #koreanadoptee #atlanta #family #photodump

The shortest answer I can give you is: it's everything💜💜

There are not enough words to describe this experience. Imagine always walking into a room of friends. No judgement, just understanding and space.

Imagine not having to perform for someone else’s benefit. Imagine not having to explain your existence or your accent or why “you don’t look like your mom.” Imagine not having to be grateful for the most pivotal thing in your life that might have placed you on a path of destruction.

Is it heaven? No. But it is the closest I have ever felt to just being a person. To not feel apprehensive about talking to a stranger because there are about 10-25 slides in the basic introduction of myself that I don’t always have the capacity to share.

Sometimes I just want to be me: not how I got here or where I grew up or even my trauma. Just a woman having a really good time with other people while also intentionally doing work to make ourselves better because we know help isn’t coming. Whether it’s for ourselves or the next generation, we are picking up the reigns to direct our futures because we never had a choice in our past.

KAAN can be a lot of things. For me, it was the homecoming I may never have, should I not be reunited with my birth family. I’ve found family here. I’ve found kinship. And despite the video, I did not find an alcohol problem. We just tried to cram decades of fun with one another into 3 days.
That’s all. 😂🤣

To those who volunteer to keep this going, thank you. For everyone who shared and presented, thank you. And for everyone who listened when I found myself rambling on in a session or in-person. Thank you. If I am going to be grateful, l am so happy to say that it is for you.

#kaan2025 #grateful #korean #transaracial #adoptee #korea #kaan #atlanta #hotlanta #soju #apt #familyreunion

@natepebbs @hye_kimmm @giannaepeterson @eamon @mayor.jenna.explores @khyejin85 @mrlomelino @djwashburn_ @thelittleasianthatcould @park_yunam @chefwinters95 @alexnhcho @natedog_45 @whokaras1 @pellouch @jeon__sm @matburn911 @mkkoons @claire_magenheimer @kirchface @sungwookieshake @brettkorean @koram_iam @kerri.enough25 @aileenninjaface @youthquakeroats @wearekaan

KAAN 2025 in Atlanta. Let's go!!!
#kaan2025 #adoptee #korean #atl #familyreunion #transracialadoptee

✨ I’m officially on Cameo! ✨
Want a personalized shoutout? A birthday message? A pep talk, breakup roast, or just a ridiculous request for a friend? I got you 😎💬

As long as it’s (mostly) legal, I’ll make it fun.
Perfect for:
🎂 Birthdays
💔 Breakups
👀 Inside jokes
🧠 Mental health pick-me-ups
🥢 Korean culture nods

📲 Link in bio to book me now—can’t wait to send you something special 💖
#Cameo #CustomMessages #SupportCreators #FunnyShoutouts #KoreanAdopteeContent #kad #happybirthday #singing

RIP Adrianna. You deserved so much better than this

#womensrights #mothersofgynecology #adriannasmith #juneteenth

Guys!!! I'm singing with a band next Friday! Yes, it's completely random, but we gotta let the sun shine when it can.

I've gotta learn two songs before Monday, then "shave my back, I'm going on" #iykyk

June 27 @ Miss O's Cafe in Garfield Heights
8-10:30 pm

$15 cover

#livemusic #cleveland #nightout

Here's your reminder to rest. When the world is wild, we must find the calm to recharge ourselves. Take a minute... Or ten. It'll be there when you get back💜

#relqx #calm #recharge #asmr

Not sure where this will lead, but one thing is for certain--we have lots of ideas!! We're also looking for others to join our conversation about the Asian experience on a global level.

What are some of your stories? What discussions would you like to hear or even be part of?

Comment below!! Let's get the conversation started!

@wecultivate.world @wecultivate.pod

#letstalk #somethingtotalkabout #sayhello #follow #collab

It's ok guys. She works in finance!
#clapback #finance #princessp

It's not right that it's this easy for me, but here we are🤷🏻‍♀️

#clapback

The face is Asian but the neck is red. What you don't understand is that I am fully aware of my proximity to whiteness, and I am fully capable of using it. Today, I will be using my skill of southern poetry to read these people to filth.

#speakout #clapback #southern #asian

Using haters as teaching opportunities

#nottheone #troll #clapback #grammar #reading #readingiscool

The gestapo is in Ohio
It’s been 0 Days since I crashed out on the internet
If your energy isn’t meeting me here, don’t meet me in person
#byefelicia #america #ice #crashout #ohio #cleveland #move

Nearly a century ago, Anne Frank wrote these words while she hid in fear. If you didn’t know it, you’d swear she was writing from her computer today. It has taken great effort to fall this hard this quickly, but it’s not too late to find yourself on the right side of history.

What will you tell your maker? Will you still argue that you were better than Hitler?

#america #annefrank #terriblethings #immigrant #ice

What are you waiting for? Whether it's posting a video or starting a new hobby, there really is no time like thhe present. Stop waiting to live your life. You won't regret trying nearly as much as letting it pass you by 💜

#youcandoit #motivation #treatyourself #youareworthy

Went with the hot pink!! Happy pride❤️💜💙💚💛 #pride #cle #asian #loveislove @rthompson1980

Sometimes work can be fun. Learning new equipment and trying new things. This might be one of the coolest things I've used, though. Direct to garment printing.

#iykyk #kad #tshirt #apparel @eamon, @giannaepeterson, @kirchface, @pellouch, @khyejin85, @claire_magenheimer, @jeon__sm, @natepebbs, @hye_kimmm, @mayor.jenna.explores, @mkkoons, @sungwookieshake, @mrlomelino, @koram_iam, @brettkorean, @kerri.enough25, @_cho_aj_

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!!

#pride #loveislove

oh darling. I hope when you meet your God he’s not as vengeful and just as you claim him to be because you will be so disappointed when he talks about all that hate in your heart. #LoveIsLove #happypride

Happy PRIDE!! In a time when the news is still filled with hate and the obsession to discredit the existence of human beings just because they want to live their lives, I celebrate you! Your bravery and resilience and fabulous lewks.
#pride #loveislove

What should I wear to PRIDE?
#dressme #ootd #pride #ally #whattowear #midsize @lolayounggg #lolayoung #onething

This trend has me in a chokehold lol #midsize #pinkrose #pink

Did anyone else cry during this movie? 😅

@bbtheatres #sweeptheleg #karatekid #waxonwaxoff #macedonia #enjoythemagicofthemovies #bbtheatres #backstagepass #bbbrandambassador #brandambassador #90s #millennial #aapi #aapiheritagemonth

I was actually speaking with @fragmentsandfullcircles the other day about the Asian American identity. As a Korean adoptee there is a definite whitewashing. How could there not be? Some would even claim that we aren't Asian at all. Some would go as far as to say that we are even white.

I can't speak for the truth of others, but here is what I know when it comes to my Asian American identity. I am NOT white hahaha. While I may not be culturally Korean, my heritage cannot be erased by my displacement.

If I wanted to make it a competition, I might argue that I'm more Korean because the culture wasn't handed to me. What knowledge I have is from my own effort-stereotypes and all. But I don't need it to be a competition lol. I honestly don't need anyone else to even agree with my Korean-ness. I know.

What does being an Asian American mean to you?

Before refrigerators, Koreans relied on fermentation to make food last through long winters. Kimchi wasn’t just tradition, it was necessity. Families would prepare huge batches in late fall (a practice called kimjang), burying them in clay pots to preserve them underground.

What started as a practical way to keep vegetables from spoiling evolved into a symbol of Korean resilience and community—and now, it’s a global favorite packed with probiotics and flavor.

Every region and household has its own take on kimchi, and that’s part of the magic. From spicy napa cabbage to water radish to white kimchi, each bite tells a different story.

Have you tried making your own? 👩‍🍳

#KoreanFoodCulture #KimchiHistory #AAPIHeritageMonth #FermentationIsLife #DeepSouthKorean #banchanbasics

The growth has slowed a bit, but I'm still just as thankful! As I continue to navigate this new side venture, I continue to be amazed by the support I receive from so many people.

I've said it before, and I will continue to say it

Thank you for being here!!!

It truly means the world to me as I build this community and share so much of myself.

#notalone #asian #7k #followme #followformoreposts♥️ #followers #transracial adoptee #korean #kad

I get so angry when I think about the things that are happening today. I want to believe that things can change... that we can redirect this sinking ship. But I am terrified by the atrocities that will take place in the interim.

The only way to make green beans #greenbeans #recipe #food #cookwithme #yum #inthekitchen

Hear me out. I have a business proposal 😂

#bananahammock #twinpeaks #hooters #business

Gym routine
#chatgpt #ai #gym #workout #fitness #glutegains #glute

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@deepsouthkorean

My Stories

My People, My Home, Myself: A Journey to KAAN

Episode 3: Letters, Files, and Family: A Search for Self

Episode 2: Finding Community & Navigating Birth Search🎙️

Podcast

Follow Me

Follow me on Instagram

Find me on TikTok @DeepSouthKorean

Stay Connected

My Stories

My People, My Home, Myself: A Journey to KAAN

Episode 3: Letters, Files, and Family: A Search for Self

Episode 2: Finding Community & Navigating Birth Search🎙️

Podcast

Follow Me

​

Follow me on Instagram

Find me on TikTok @DeepSouthKorean

Stay Connected