Mark, a 50-year-old Korean adoptee from Chicago, has an impressive display of facial hair: a full moustache and beard, something you don’t see that often on Korean men. (My brother, who, like me, is a Korean adoptee, has tried this before and gotten a woefully undergrown result.) When he was preparing for his first trip back to South Korea, Mark struggled with what to do about his facial hair. In homogenous Korean society, he knew that the beard would be “a big deal.” Should he make life easier and shave it, or stay true to himself and keep it? It was, as it turned out, a profound decision, one [...]

Adoption is not often discussed, even-maybe especially-among adoptees. My brother was also adopted, two years after me, and until last week, we had never talked about it, not even once. While conducting interviews for this series, I received some responses that were telling-and not just because they were answers to questions I had asked. "I hope this kinda answers your questions. They were very hard to answer," one interviewee said. Another: "Sorry it took me so long. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be." A third person said: "I'm glad I'm not insane and there are people who really do feel like there are a [...]